site.btaDefence Minister: SAFE, European Defence Industrial Reinforcement Offer Favourable Loans to Support Defence Companies

The Ministry of Defence held a working meeting on Friday, where Bulgarian defence industry companies discussed opportunities to take part in projects for which the country will seek financial support through loans under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) and the European Defence Industrial Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA). Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, quoted by his Ministry, said that the loan under the EDIRPA comes with extremely favourable terms and is aimed at urgent and large-scale public investments to support the European defence industry.

According to Zapryanov, the Ministries of Defence, Innovation and Growth, and Economy and Industry are open to cooperation with all companies. He invited businesses to present their capacity and proposals for participation in SAFE projects and modernization initiatives. The implementation of these projects will enable the Bulgarian Armed Forces to build part of the necessary defence capabilities in five years or less, the Ministry said.

Industry representatives were briefed on the scope of rearmament and combat capability acquisition projects proposed for financing under the SAFE mechanism.

All projects under SAFE must be completed by December 31, 2030, Zapryanov said Thursday.

Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev, Minister of Economy and Industry Peter Dilov, Deputy Chief of Defence Lt. Gen. Krasimir Kanev, representatives of the Public Procurement Agency, the Tsvetan Lazarov Bulgarian Defence Institute, and Bulgarian defence industry enterprises. The event aimed to foster closer cooperation on SAFE-funded projects between industry, state institutions, and research organizations developing innovations in the security and defence sector.