SAFE is part of a significant rearmament initiative announced by the European Commission in March, aiming to generate an additional 800 billion euros for defense over the upcoming years.
With this new program, the Commission intends to borrow up to 150 billion euros to finance member states looking to collaboratively invest in the defense sector and rectify shortcomings in European defense capabilities. The funds can also be allocated for purchasing military equipment for Ukraine or for direct investment in the Ukrainian defense sector.
A total of eighteen countries have shown interest in these loans: Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Finland. Collectively, they seek to borrow at least 127 billion euros, as stated in a press release from the Commission.
“The significant interest in SAFE highlights the EU’s unity and ambition regarding security and defense. We are dedicated to assisting EU nations in their efforts to bolster European security,” stated Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defense. “SAFE represents our collective commitment to enhancing defense readiness for a stronger and more united future.”
Following a “soft deadline” on Tuesday, which allows the Commission to conduct an initial evaluation of resource requirements, the official deadline for submitting applications will be on November 30, 2025.
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