BNS Trade Unions: Pillar II pension funds used for weapons procurement

The National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) has reacted sharply to a proposed bill backed by 123 MPs from across all parties (PSD, PNL, USR, AUR, minorities, and independents), which would allow savings accumulated by Romanians in the second pillar of private pensions to be invested in companies operating in the defence, security, and armaments sectors. The initiative is also supported by dismissed Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, BNS asserts that the measure would amount to an emergency fix by politicians to plug the budget deficit and address the state's lack of liquidity, using Romanians' lifetime savings. The union stated that it issued a negative opinion on the bill within the Economic and Social Council (CES).

"Politicians have come to view Romanians' Pillar II pension savings as a source of liquidity for financing the military industry. We call on you to immediately withdraw this bill and to stop dreaming of squandering Romanians' pension funds on all manner of shadowy dealings!", the BNS statement reads.

The contract with Israel — an example of military "shopping"

The trade unionists also criticise the manner in which the Bolojan Government, formally in office solely for the management of current affairs, recently approved an agreement worth over 2 billion euros with Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for the acquisition of the SPYDER anti-aircraft system.

BNS notes a striking contrast: on one hand, the government invokes the constitutional limitations of a caretaker cabinet when it comes to assuming responsibility, yet on the other hand it becomes remarkably active when it comes to signing multi-billion-euro military contracts.

No offset clauses, whilst Poland has used them to great effect

The union criticises the fact that, despite Romania making multi-billion-euro military purchases (including loans of 16 billion euros through the European SAFE programme), none of the contracts deliver any tangible benefits to the national defence industry.

BNS recalls that a legal framework established by the Năstase Government back in 2002 obliges negotiators to include economic compensation (offset) clauses in major military procurement deals — covering investment in Romanian factories, technology transfer, and the creation of new jobs. The union states that over the past 20 years, political decision-makers have consistently refused to apply this legislation.

As a counter-example, BNS cites Poland, which reportedly succeeded in building the most powerful defence industry in the former communist bloc precisely through robust negotiation of offset clauses: "Through negotiations conducted in the interest of its own economy, Poland managed to develop industrial clusters, create thousands of well-paid jobs, and strengthen its capacity to produce and export military equipment. Well done, Poland! Shame on you, Romania!", the statement reads.

"Corruption, incompetence, or subservience"

BNS also considers the Financial Supervisory Authority's (ASF) recommendation that the bill should receive an opinion from the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) to be both pointless and perfunctory, describing that institution as "an institutional caricature that has failed to fulfil its statutory responsibilities".

In the closing section of the statement, BNS levels accusations at the entire political class involved in military procurement decisions over the past two decades, arguing that Romania's consistently disadvantageous position in international negotiations can be attributed to one of three possible causes: corruption, incompetence, or subservience.

"We leave it to each of them to decide which drawer of history they wish to be placed in [...]. What is certain, however, is that they will not find their place in the drawer marked 'statesmen of Romania'", the BNS statement concludes.