Eight Countries Secure SAFE Funding
The European Commission has approved defence investment plans from eight EU nations under the new Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, part of the wider Readiness 2030 strategy. Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Finland will collectively access €74 billion in loans, with Poland alone receiving €43.7 billion.
This is the second round of approvals, following €38 billion granted to Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Romania earlier in January. SAFE is a key element of Europe’s plan to channel up to €800 billion into defence by 2030, amid intelligence warnings that Russia could threaten another European country before then.
Turning Strategy Into Action
Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius highlighted that the funding marks a shift from planning to tangible military strength. “We are no longer just drafting strategies; we are building a hard-power reality,” he said, adding that the programme signals to both European industry and potential adversaries that the EU is serious about its defence capabilities.
So far, 19 member states have applied for SAFE funding, with provisional allocations agreed last September. Czechia, France, and Hungary are still waiting for approval. EU ministers now have four weeks to finalize the plans, with first payments expected in March 2026.
Boosting European Defence and Industry
SAFE aims to accelerate the procurement of essential defence equipment, including missiles, artillery, drones, air and missile defence systems, cybersecurity tools, artificial intelligence technology, and electronic warfare systems. A key requirement is that at least 65% of the components must come from the EU, EEA-EFTA countries, or Ukraine. Canada can also participate under a bilateral agreement with the bloc.
The programme benefits countries with lower credit ratings by allowing them to borrow at better rates than they could on their own. Germany, which has a credit rating comparable to the EU, opted not to apply. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has suggested the scheme could be expanded further, noting that demand already exceeds the initial €150 billion allocation.
