Eight Nations Approved for 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 eight countries requested a combined €74 billion, with Poland accounting for €43.7 billion alone.
SAFE is a key part of the EU’s Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to inject hundreds of billions of euros into European defence by the end of the decade amid warnings that Russia could threaten another European nation. This second round of approvals follows €38 billion granted earlier in January to Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Romania.
From Strategy to Military Capability
Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the latest approvals show Europe is moving beyond strategy and committing serious financial resources to strengthen its military. “We are no longer just drafting strategies; we are building a hard-power reality,” he said. “This sends 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. Plans from Czechia, France, and Hungary are still pending. EU ministers have four weeks to formally approve the plans, with first payments expected in March 2026.
Supporting European Defence and Industry
SAFE funding is designed to fast-track the procurement of essential defence equipment, including missiles, artillery, drones, air and missile defence systems, cybersecurity tools, AI technology, and electronic warfare systems. A key condition is that most equipment must be European-made, with no more than 35% of components coming from outside the EU, EEA-EFTA countries, or Ukraine. Canada can also participate through a bilateral agreement.
The programme offers better borrowing terms for countries with lower credit ratings, while nations like Germany, with strong credit ratings, opted not to apply. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted the scheme’s popularity, saying it could expand further, as requests already exceed the €150 billion originally allocated.
