Defence, green light to Canada’s participation in European SAFE programme

Brussels – Not just the EU. The €150 billion SAFE loan programme for the defence industry is also open to Canada. The Council of the EU has adopted a decision authorising the European Union to sign the bilateral agreement between Brussels and Ottawa, allowing Canadian companies and products originating in Canada to participate in tenders under the special SAFE instrument. Canada will thus become the first non-European country to participate in the SAFE instrument. 

“Today’s decisions show that the EU is not just talking about defence: it is delivering on its objectives,” emphasises Vasilis Palmas, Minister of Defence of Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. “Through SAFE, we are strengthening our security where it matters most.” 

Meanwhile, the Defence Council has approved the Commission’s proposal to grant loans to the first group of Member States, for which the EU executive gave the green light last month: funds can be disbursed to Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, and Romania. The second group of Member States, on the other hand, will have to wait another week: the EU Council’s implementing decisions on financial assistance through SAFE to Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia have been approved by EU ambassadors and are expected to be formally adopted by the Council on 17 February. 

Meanwhile, Estonia rejects the idea of a common European army once again: “We already have a common European army: it consists of the national armies,” says Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, cutting short the discussion upon his arrival in Brussels to participate in the Defence Council meeting. “When national armies unite, they form the European army.” A few words, but enough to disavow the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, who called for moving beyond the 27 national armies and leaving things as they are. “NATO is responsible for planning and organisation, the EU must help states achieve NATO objectives,” summarises the Tallinn minister.