The European Commission on Tuesday approved the provisional allocation of €150 billion in financial assistance to strengthen the level of defence preparedness across the EU, with Slovakia set to receive €2.3 billion.
The measure, adopted under the Security Arrangements for Europe (SAFE) programme, aims to strengthen the EU's defence capabilities and help member states address critical shortcomings and jointly purchase defence industry products.
The Commission pointed out that the SAFE programme has attracted a great deal of interest following its adoption by the EU Council in May 2025, with 19 member states expressing their willingness to participate and to request support beyond the available budget.
SAFE will provide long-term, low-cost loans to help member states procure urgently needed defence equipment. The programme will also allow the EU to further support Ukraine by linking its defence industry to the facility from the outset.
The programme includes a ten-year loan deferment period, competitive interest rates, and the possibility of bilateral agreements with third countries.
Among the 19 participating countries, Poland will receive the highest amount (€43.7 billion), followed by Romania (€16.7 billion), France and Hungary (€16.2 billion each), and Italy (€14.9 billion).
Source: TASR
