Brussels prepares initial green light for EU rearmament financing

The European Commission is preparing to grant initial approval this week to the first group of EU member states applying for funding under the large-scale SAFE programme, which is aimed at rearmament and strengthening the Union’s defence capacities.

According to information obtained by the Polish media, several countries’ applications are expected to receive a positive assessment from the Commission. Poland, however, will be included in the second group and will have to wait longer for approval.

The SAFE programme offers low-interest loans amounting to 150 billion euros, and 19 EU member states have already submitted their requests for financing. Poland is expected to become the initiative’s largest beneficiary, with potential funding estimated at 43.7 billion euros.

At the end of November, Warsaw submitted 139 projects, which include air and missile defence, ammunition production, artillery systems, drones and counter-drone technologies, protection of critical infrastructure, and cybersecurity. One EU diplomat explained that Poland was not placed in the first group due to the scale and complexity of its 300-page rearmament plan.

After completing its internal review, the European Commission will forward the national plans to the EU Council for approval. The Council will then have four weeks to make its decision.

By Tamilla Hasanova