The European Union is launching a large-scale defence initiative, SAFE (Security Action for Europe), with potential investments of up to 150 billion euros. Ukraine has been invited to participate. The programme was agreed upon by the ambassadors of EU member states in the Committee of Permanent Representatives, Timeukraineisrael reports, citing the Polish EU Presidency.
“There is an agreement on #SAFE. The more we invest in equipping our armies, the better we will deter those who would do us harm,” he said in a post on social media X.
The launch of the programme was welcomed by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, who stressed that it was a key step towards strengthening European defence capabilities, based on the decision of EU leaders in March.
The SAFE programme provides for:
- borrowing up to €150 billion on the capital market to strengthen the EU defence industry;
- simplifying procedures for joint defence procurement;
- two key categories of funding – from munitions to missile defence systems and artificial intelligence;
- attracting small and medium-sized enterprises, including those from Ukraine.
A special feature of the programme is the restriction on foreign components: the cost of components produced outside the EU, EEA and Ukraine should not exceed 35% of the product value. This allows countries such as Ukraine to participate in the production chains of the joint defence order.
Ukraine, as well as candidate countries, can participate in procurements on the basis of separate defence partnership agreements.
SAFE covers funding for a wide range of defence capabilities:
- Category 1: ammunition, missiles, drones, cyber defence, infantry support equipment;
- Category 2: Missile defence, large drones, maritime capabilities, artificial intelligence, electronic weapons, space equipment.
The programme opens up new opportunities for Ukraine to upgrade its technology, integrate into the European defence infrastructure and access financing for domestic producers.
