SAFE | Security Action for Europe

Adopted by the Council of the European Union on the 27^th of May 2025, SAFE (Security Action for Europe) is the EU’s new financial instrument designed to provide financial support to Member States to speed up defence readiness by allowing urgent and major investments in support of the European defence industry, with a focus on closing critical capability gaps.

Strengthening Europe’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base

SAFE will provide up to €150 billion in competitively priced, long-maturity loans to Member States requesting financial assistance for investments in defence capabilities. These loans will finance urgent and large-scale procurement efforts, ensuring that Europe’s defence industry can deliver the necessary equipment when it is needed most.

To maximise impact and reduce fragmentation, projects will be based on common procurement, involving at least one Member State benefitting from SAFE and another Member States, as well as Ukraine and EEA-EFTA countries. However, in light of current geopolitical realities, SAFE will also temporarily support procurements by individual Member States to ensure timely delivery of critical assets.

EU borrowing for the financing of the new programme will enable competitively priced and attractively structured long-duration loans to requesting Member States. The terms of these loans benefit from the EU's strong credit rating.

A United European Defence Response

SAFE supports the goals set out by the European Council in March 2025 to increase defence readiness. It is the first pillar of the European Commission’s ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, which aims to unlock over €800 billion in defence spending across the EU.

The initiative complements existing EU efforts by:

• Boosting national defence budgets through greater flexibility under the Stability and Growth Pact;
• Facilitating defence-related investment through EU cohesion and regional funds;
• Leveraging support from the European Investment Bank;
• Mobilising private capital to support strategic defence initiatives.

What will SAFE fund?

SAFE supports the procurement of priority defence products grouped into two categories:

Across both categories, procurement contracts must ensure that no more than 35% of component costs originate from outside the EU, EEA-EFTA, or Ukraine. 

Category 2 projects must meet stricter eligibility conditions, including the possession by contractors of the capacity to modify the equipment in case of need without non EU restrictions. 

Tentative allocation per Member State

The tentative allocation per Member State is as follows: 

Supporting Ukraine and Trusted Partners

SAFE marks a new chapter in EU cooperation with trusted third countries. From the outset, Ukraine and EEA-EFTA countries will participate on equal terms with EU Member States. This includes eligibility for joint procurement and procurement from their defence industries.

While only Member States can obtain SAFE loans, the following countries may participate in common procurement: 

• EU acceding, candidate, and potential candidate countries;
• Countries that have signed Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU, such as Albania, Canada, Japan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Norway, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

Additional bilateral or multilateral agreements may be concluded to broaden participation and eligibility.

Next Steps

SAFE entered into force on the 29^th of May 2025, following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States can submit national plans to access funding and begin implementing procurement projects aligned with EU priorities.

As soon as they are received, the Commission will begin reviewing and assessing the initial batch of National Defence Investment Plan proposals submitted under SAFE. 

Legal document

Background documents

SAFE Special Group documents