Poland receives close to billions in support from the SAFE program. The EU approved the projects
According to information from EU sources provided by the Polish Press Agency, ambassadors approved two packages of national plans submitted by member states. The adoption of appropriate implementing decisions by the Council will pave the way for the release of the first tranche of preferential, long-term loans granted by the European Commission under the SAFE program.
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The SAFE program is a priority of the current Presidency of the EU Council
As the spokesman for the Cypriot presidency emphasized, the smooth implementation of the SAFE program is one of Cyprus' key priorities during its six-month presidency of the EU Council. The program assumes the allocation of a total of EUR 150 billion in the form of low-interest loans for the purchase of weapons, mainly produced in Europe. Its aim is to strengthen the Union's defense potential and reduce the dependence of member states on supplies of military equipment from outside Europe, including from the USA.
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SAFE program. Poland is the biggest beneficiary
So far, 19 EU countries have signed up to participate in the SAFE program. Poland is its largest beneficiary – it submitted applications for 139 projects worth a total of EUR 43.7 billion.
The first package of projects, including applications from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Portugal and Romania, will be formally adopted by EU defense ministers on Wednesday in Brussels. The second set – prepared, among others, by Estonia, Greece, Italy, the Baltic states, Slovakia, Finland and Poland – will be officially approved on February 17 during the meeting of EU finance ministers.
