Security Action for Europe
Security Action for Europe (SAFE) through the Reinforcement of the European Defence Industry Instrument | |
Member states shown in green (EU) and orange (Canada) | |
| Abbreviation | SAFE |
|---|---|
| Formation | 27 May 2025[1] |
| Type | EU financial instrument for defense spending |
Region | North Atlantic |
| Membership | |
Security Action for Europe (SAFE) is a European Union program created in 2025 to facilitate joint purchases of arms and military equipment in the context of strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy and the 2020s European rearmament. This organization was set up to grant loans at preferential rates to EU member states. It only intervenes if a project involves several countries, including at least one EU member state, and if the proposed weapons systems contain at least 65% European components.[2][3]
History
Throughout its history, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has regularly taken the initiative to finance military projects in Europe. At the beginning of 2025, EU member states began calling for the creation of a separate fund and a European rearmament bank.
SAFE is an initiative stemming from the White Paper for European Defence and the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030[4] and will be able to start with initial funding of €150 billion, which is expected to reach €200 billion later in 2025. Public and private contributions are being sought to reach the target of €800 billion.[5][6][7]
SAFE is also seen as a tool for achieving NATO's financial goal, the 5% budget standard per country, as defined at the 2025 The Hague NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands.
In May 2025, the European Council announced the final approval of the SAFE instrument at a General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting, with only Hungary abstaining, including a €150 billion loan package for joint purchases of military equipment.[8]
In December 2025, Canada signed an agreement with the European Union to join the SAFE initiative. It is the first non-European country to participate in the program. This agreement gives Canadian defense companies greater access to European markets. Previously, Canada had joined ReArm Europe, a European defense initiative.[9][10]
See also
References
- ^ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32025R1106
- ^ "Sous la pression "considérable" de la France, le Royaume-Uni avait claqué la porte du programme militaire européen SAFE: face à la menace Trump, Londres va finalement renégocier avec Bruxelles". BFM BUSINESS (in French). 2026-01-26. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ Bachler, Eve (2025-05-28). "L'UE adopte un programme d'achats de 150 milliards d'euros pour son réarmement". Touteleurope.eu (in French). Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ "Commission unveils the White Paper for European Defence and the ReArm Europe Plan\/Readiness 2030". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ European Commission. "€800 billion amount Member States aim to mobilise under the ReArm Europe Plan/ Readiness 2030 to finance a massive ramp-up of defence spending". commission.europa.eu. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ Sueur, Olivier (2025-05-04). "Livre blanc pour une défense européenne : les États face à leur(s) responsabilité(s)". The Conversation. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ "Livre blanc de la défense européenne : les Vingt-Sept se préparent à passer en économie de guerre". Libération (in French). 2025-03-19. Archived from the original on 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ Charles Cohen; Nicoletta Ionta (2025-05-27). "Défense : l'instrument SAFE obtient l'approbation finale du Conseil". euractiv.fr (in French). Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ "Canada says it wants to join major European defence plan". www.bbc.com. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Politique- (2026-02-15). "Défense : le Canada annonce son adhésion officielle au programme européen SAFE". Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2026-02-16.