ES Commission announces second SAFE funding round worth 21.3 billion euros
The European Commission announced on 29 October a second SAFE defence financing round with a budget of 21.3 billion euros. EU member states are encouraged to include joint defence procurement with Ukraine in their investment plans, although Ukraine’s participation is not mandatory and the funds are not a separate aid package for Ukraine.
Pagrindiniai faktai
- The second SAFE round has a total budget of 21.3 billion euros.
- All EU member states may apply for the second SAFE round.
- The Commission urges member states to include joint defence procurement with Ukraine in their national investment plans.
- The money is allocated to EU member states, not directly to Ukraine.
- Priority areas include air and missile defence, drones, counter-drone systems, ammunition and missiles.
- The Commission will notify member states of a preliminary allocation within two weeks after the application deadline.
- SAFE is part of the EU’s Readiness 2030 defence-industrial strategy.
Kodėl tai svarbu
The new round could channel substantial defence resources towards joint European procurement involving Ukraine and support the needs of both Ukrainian and EU armed forces. However, SAFE operates as a credit instrument for EU member states, so using the funds for joint projects with Ukraine is recommended rather than mandatory.
Kas nutiko
On 29 October, the European Commission announced the second SAFE funding round, with a total budget of 21.3 billion euros. EU member states may submit applications and are encouraged to include joint defence procurement with Ukraine in their national investment plans. The Commission identified air and missile defence, drones and counter-drone systems, ammunition and missiles as priority areas. A preliminary allocation will be communicated to member states within two weeks after the application deadline closes. The round is financed within SAFE, a long-term EU lending programme worth 150 billion euros adopted in May 2025.
Kaip apie tai rašo Ukrainos šaltiniai
Ukrainian coverage highlights the possibility of directing SAFE financing towards joint procurement with Ukraine and the potential benefit for Ukrainian armed forces. It also stresses that the money constitutes financing for EU member states rather than a separate Ukrainian aid package, and that Ukraine’s participation in joint projects is not a condition for receiving SAFE funding.
Kontekstas
SAFE was adopted in May 2025 as a long-term EU lending programme worth 150 billion euros. EU member states submitted defence-industry development plans in October 2025, with some requesting less than initially agreed. The EU approved credit agreements with 19 member states that joined SAFE, signed agreements with 16, and provided almost 13.5 billion euros in advance financing to 11.