The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) announced on Wednesday evening that it has filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) regarding possible irregularities in the preparation, selection of economic operators, negotiation, awarding, financing and execution of projects under Romania's SAFE programme.

AUR argues that, given the programme's scale - €16.68 billion in EU loan financing, with €2.5 billion already received and €800 million earmarked for military equipment and production capacities — secrecy, unclear documentation and potential favouritism cannot be ignored. The party asks prosecutors to verify whether the circumstances may constitute offences such as abuse of office, intellectual forgery, use of forged documents, false statements, misuse of office for favouring individuals, or offences against the EU's financial interests.

AUR lists several specific areas of concern:

*** Rheinmetall contracts - alleged concentration of high-value contracts within one industrial group; design of specifications; alternative suppliers; price changes; production and technology-transfer obligations.

*** Piranha 5 project - rejection of a 139-vehicle proposal reportedly producible in Romania; redirection of funds to the infantry fighting vehicle programme; discrepancies between initial and final unit prices; need for document-based clarification.

*** Individual weapon system - questions over how an eighth operator became associated with the selected solution after an initial list of seven; need to verify introduction, criteria and SAFE eligibility.

*** OCCULT-AI project - €190-200 million contract awarded to Digi; need to establish who selected the operator, who the competitors were, applied criteria, and security/eligibility assessments.

*** Infantry fighting vehicle programme - additional concerns over drone and anti-drone projects coordinated by the Interior Ministry, and possible links between naval contracts and Mangalia Shipyard.

*** Lack of public documentation - absence of publicly accessible documents on consulted operators, comparative criteria, eliminated bidders, analysed solutions and decision-makers; AUR argues classification cannot replace accountability.

The party requests DNA to obtain the full SAFE investment plan, all project files, necessity reports, approvals, operational requirements, market consultations, offers, evaluations, negotiations, contracts and addenda - including native electronic files, version histories and metadata - to determine whether decisions were pre-set, prices justified, funds legally redirected and whether documents sent to EU institutions reflect reality.

AUR states that when over €16 billion and strategic national interests are involved, 'no serious suspicion should be buried under claims of secrecy, urgency or national security.' AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Andreea Rotaru; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)