The Council today approved a regulation on the establishment of the means of “Safe” (SAFE). Safe is a new financial means of EU that will support Member States wishing to invest in industrial production for defense through common supplies, focusing on priority opportunities.
Safe will fund emergency and large -scale investments in European defense technological and industrial base (EDTIB). The aim is to enhance production capacity, ensuring that defense equipment is available when needed and to deal with existing gaps in the capabilities – ultimately enhancing the EU’s overall defense readiness.
In addition, Safe will allow the EU to further support Ukraine by linking its defense industry to the medium.
Safe Mode
Through SAFE, the EU will provide up to 150 billion euros, which will be distributed to interested Member States upon request and based on national plans. Disbursements will take the form of long -term loans at competitive prices, which will be repaid by the beneficiary Member States.
In order to ensure economies of scale and interoperability, and reduce the possible fragmentation of Edtib, the beneficiary Member States should, in principle, perform Common supplies involving at least two participating countries to meet the conditions for loans.
In response to the current geopolitical situation and the urgent need for mass investment in defense equipment, Safe will also allow supplies that relate only one Member State for a limited period of time.
Participation
Safe opens a new chapter in collaboration with third countries. Ukraine and the EEA-EAZs will be treated on the same terms as Member States. Not only will they be able to participate in common supplies, but it will also be possible to buy from their industries.
SAFE will also allow the countries, candidate countries, potential candidates and countries that have signed corporate security and defense relations with the EU, such as the United Kingdom, participate in public contracts.
In addition, SAFE offers the ability to conclude additional bilateral or multilateral agreement with these third states, under which eligibility conditions could be opened.
Eligible action
Eligible activities funded through SAFE will apply to the first list of priority areas identified by the European Council on March 6, 2025 and will be divided into two categories of defense products:
1) Ammunition and missiles, artillery systems (including deep precision borns), soil battle capabilities and their support systems (including soldiers and infantry weapons), critical infrastructure; cyber security; Military mobility (including anti -mobility)
2) Air and missile defense systems, maritime and underwater use capabilities, unmanned aircraft and anti-anti-drones, strategic factors that make it possible to implement, such as, indicative, strategic aircraft, C4istar, as well as space media and services; protection of space resources; artificial intelligence and electronic war.
Category 2 defense products will be subject to stricter eligibility terms, demanding that the contractors have the ability to decide on the definition, adaptation and evolution of the design of the defense product supplied.
For both product categories, procurement contracts should ensure that the costs of accessories coming out of the EU, EEA-EEA and Ukraine states It does not exceed 35% of the estimated cost of the finished product components.
The EU is committed to enhancing and further deepening transatlantic cooperation and commitment to security and defense, as well as complementarity with NATO. In this context, Safe will try to enhance reliable interoperability, continue industrial cooperation and ensure mutual access to cutting -edge technologies with partners.