The European Union has officially adopted a historic $170 billion defense program. The program, called the Security Action for Europe (SAFE), will “support those member states that wish to invest in defence industrial production through common procurement, focusing on priority capabilities,” a statement from the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU says.
We have adopted the first large-scale defence investment programme on the EU level worth €150 billion. This is not only a success of the Polish presidency, but of the EU as a whole,” said Adam Szlapka, Polish Minister for the EU. “This is an unprecedented instrument which will boost our defence capabilities and support our defence industry. The more we invest in our security and defence, the better we deter those who wish us harm.
The program will fund investments in European defense technology and industry to increase production capacity, ensure the availability of equipment, and address existing gaps.
It will further allow the EU to support Ukraine.
“SAFE opens up a new chapter in the cooperation with third countries. Ukraine and EEA-EFTA countries will be treated on the same terms as member states,” a press release explains. “Not only they will be able to join common procurements, but also it will be possible to buy from their industries.”
The United Kingdom will also participate in the SAFE program following its recent post-Brexit agreement with the European Union.
“In line with our shared security interests, we attach particular importance to collaboration on defence. For the UK and those EU Member States who are NATO Allies, NATO remains the cornerstone of their collective defence,” a document from the UK-EU Summit 2025 notes. “Our aim will be to help deliver on our capability targets, including through our defence industries, more quickly and economically and with enhanced interoperability in ways that deliver mutual benefit and reinforce the European contribution to NATO.”
