Defence: Commission approves first SAFE disbursements to eight Member States

Brussels – The first European funding for rearmament and defence is ready through the 150 billion euro SAFE programme, to which European governments have subscribed. The EU Commission has approved requests for the disbursement of resources for eight Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Portugal, Romania, and Spain) and has recommended that the Council proceed with the disbursement. 

The Commission’s decision follows the filing of the national defence investment plans, which the EU executive’s services reviewed. Together, these eight Member States are entitled to approximately 38 billion euros after signing the proposed loan agreements. These funds will provide a vital boost to strategic capabilities where they are most needed. 

“It is now urgent for the Council to approve these plans to allow fast disbursement” of resources, urges European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who anticipates further green lights to come: “We have now approved an initial batch of SAFE plans for Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal and Romania. The others will follow shortly after.” Among the countries on the waiting list is also Italy, to which Brussels has allocated around 15 billion euros.