Romania received €2.5 billion on 26 August from a total allocation of €16.7 billion. Bulgaria and Latvia followed on 28 August with €489.3 million and €524.7 million respectively, against total allocations of €3.3 billion and €3.5 billion.
The European Commission said the funding would help the three countries modernise military capabilities, strengthen resilience and move priority defence projects forward. SAFE is also intended to support joint procurement, improve interoperability among European forces and strengthen the European defence industrial base through closer cross-border co-operation.
“Today’s €2.5 billion payment to Romania under SAFE is a major milestone for European defence and a more sovereign Europe,” said Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space. “This funding will strengthen Romania’s defence capabilities and industrial base, while contributing to Europe’s overall security. SAFE is a clear demonstration of our strong commitment to European security, and to the resilience and to defence of our Eastern Flank.”
Kubilius said the first payments to Bulgaria and Latvia would also allow both countries to move more quickly on defence priorities. “With these first SAFE payments, we are helping Bulgaria and Latvia accelerate key defence investments while strengthening their readiness and resilience. We are acting swiftly and decisively to support Member States on the EU’s Eastern Flank. SAFE enables Member States to invest more quickly, procure more effectively through joint action, and strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base.”
The payments were released after completion of all required procedural steps. Further disbursements will follow as agreed milestones are reached and implementation progresses.
SAFE is a €150 billion financial instrument providing loans to EU Member States, with a primary focus on joint procurement of ammunition, missiles, air defence and ground combat systems produced within the bloc. It forms part of the European Commission’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to unlock more than €800 billion in defence investment across the European Union.
The instrument is financed through EU borrowing on financial markets. The Commission said this structure allows participating Member States to access competitively priced, long-duration loans supported by the EU’s credit rating.
Source: European Commision
