The European Commission has confirmed the allocation of a €150 billion ($176 billion) defense loan package under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, with Poland set to receive the largest share.
According to the Commission, 19 EU member states applied for and secured loans through the scheme, which is intended to strengthen defense capabilities and accelerate procurement across the bloc. Final allocations will depend on individual investment plans submitted by member states.
Poland will receive €43.7 billion, nearly one-third of the total. Romania has been allocated €16.7 billion, while France and Hungary will each receive €16.2 billion. Italy will receive €14.9 billion, followed by Belgium (€8.3 billion), Lithuania (€6.4 billion), Portugal (€5.8 billion), and Latvia (€5.7 billion). Other beneficiaries include Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Slovakia, and Spain.
SAFE, launched earlier this year, offers long-term, low-interest loans with a ten-year grace period. Funding will be directed toward projects that support the European defense industry and encourage joint procurement, with priority areas including air and missile defense, ground combat systems, space, cyber, and strategic capabilities.
EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said all available loans had been subscribed:
“I would like also to remind that when SAFE was announced early in spring, here was a lot of skepticism about possible low interest to take the loans. The contrary is true. The interest from the member states have been a resounding success,” he stated.
Kubilius also noted that bilateral technical agreements with the UK and Canada on participation in the program will be negotiated soon. Ukraine and EU candidate countries are also expected to gain access to loans or joint procurement under the scheme.
Member states must submit investment plans by November 30, with loan agreements expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2026.
