Eight Countries Receive SAFE Funding
The European Commission has approved defence investment plans from eight EU nations under its €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme. Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Finland will access a combined €74 billion in loans, with Poland accounting for €43.7 billion alone.
This marks the second round of SAFE approvals, following a January decision that granted €38 billion to Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Romania. SAFE is a central part of the EU’s Readiness 2030 strategy, which aims to channel up to €800 billion into European defence by the end of the decade amid ongoing concerns about Russian aggression.
Turning Plans Into Military Capability
EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius emphasized that the programme represents more than strategy—it is about building tangible military strength. “We are no longer just drafting strategies; we are building a hard-power reality,” he said. The initiative sends a strong message to both European defence industries and potential adversaries that the bloc is serious about its security and sovereignty.
Nineteen member states have applied to SAFE so far, with funding allocations provisionally agreed last September. Investment plans from Czechia, France, and Hungary are still under review, and EU ministers have four weeks to approve the plans formally. First payments are expected in March 2026.
Strengthening European-Made Defence
SAFE is designed to speed up the procurement of priority military equipment, including ammunition, missiles, artillery, drones, anti-drone systems, air and missile defence, cybersecurity tools, AI applications, and electronic warfare systems. A key requirement is that at least 65% of equipment components must be sourced from the EU, EEA-EFTA countries, or Ukraine, though Canada can participate through a bilateral agreement.
The scheme also benefits countries with lower credit ratings, allowing them to secure better borrowing terms than on their national markets. Germany, whose credit rating matches the Commission’s, did not request SAFE funding. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has suggested the programme could be expanded further, noting that initial demand exceeded the €150 billion originally set aside.
