Eight Nations Receive SAFE Funding
The European Commission has approved defence investment plans from Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Finland under the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme. These countries requested a total of €74 billion, with Poland alone accounting for €43.7 billion.
SAFE is part of the EU’s Readiness 2030 initiative, which aims to channel hundreds of billions of euros into defence by the end of the decade amid concerns that Russia could threaten another European nation. This second round of approvals follows €38 billion granted in January to Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Romania.
Turning Plans Into Action
Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the latest approvals show Europe is moving from strategy to tangible military capability. “We are no longer just drafting strategies; we are building a hard-power reality,” he said. “This is a clear signal to European industry and our adversaries alike: Europe is serious about its strength and sovereignty.”
So far, 19 member states have applied for SAFE funding, with provisional allocations agreed last September. Investment plans from Czechia, France, and Hungary are still pending. EU ministers now have four weeks to formally approve the plans, with the first payments expected in March 2026.
Boosting European Defence and Industry
SAFE funding will accelerate the purchase of key military equipment, including missiles, artillery, drones, air and missile defence systems, cybersecurity tools, AI technology, and electronic warfare systems. A key requirement is that most equipment must be made in Europe, with no more than 35% of components coming from outside the EU, EEA-EFTA countries, or Ukraine. Canada, under a bilateral agreement, can also participate on equal terms.
The scheme is particularly attractive for countries with lower credit ratings, offering more favourable borrowing terms than they could secure on their own. Germany, whose credit rating matches the Commission’s, chose not to apply.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that the programme has been oversubscribed, with demand already exceeding the €150 billion initially available, and suggested it could be expanded in the future.
