Eight Countries Get Green Light for SAFE Funding
The European Commission has approved national 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. Together, these countries requested €74 billion, with Poland alone accounting for €43.7 billion.
SAFE is a central part of the EU’s Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to pour hundreds of billions of euros into defence by the end of the decade, as intelligence agencies warn of a potential threat from Russia to other European nations. This is the second round of approvals, following €38 billion granted to Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Romania earlier in January.
From Strategy to Action
Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius emphasized that the latest approvals show Europe is moving beyond planning and into tangible action. “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. The plans from Czechia, France, and Hungary are still pending. EU ministers now have four weeks to formally approve all applications, with the first payments expected in March 2026.
Strengthening European Defence and Industry
SAFE funding will help member states procure essential defence equipment, including missiles, ammunition, artillery, drones, air and missile defence systems, cybersecurity tools, AI technology, and electronic warfare systems. A key rule 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 is also eligible under a bilateral agreement.
The scheme is especially beneficial for countries with lower credit ratings, offering them better borrowing terms than they could secure independently. Germany, with a strong credit rating, opted not to apply. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that demand has already exceeded the €150 billion allocation, suggesting the programme may be expanded in the future.
