Poland was the first to launch a relay called SAFE. On Friday afternoon, the agreement regarding this EU defense support program was ceremonially signed at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. On Saturday, a similar thing happened to our neighbor.
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Lithuania signed the SAFE Agreement
Lithuania and the European Commission signed an agreement in Vilnius regarding the SAFE program worth EUR 6.375 billion. “A safe Lithuania means a safe Europe,” said Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekunas, quoted by TVP Info.
“This is the best example of how Europe can strengthen the defense of its member states,” emphasized Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas.
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As TVP Info notes, the funds received are to be spent mainly on development national division, ammunition supplies, countermobility measures and other current needs of the armed forces.
According to the plan, the first advance payment of almost one billion euros is to be paid to Lithuania within three months.
“This gives our national budget greater flexibility and the ability to respond better,” Kaunas emphasized. He added that if SAFE 2 is created in the future, Lithuania will definitely use it.
SAFE is a very large injection of money for Lithuania. This year's the country's defense budget is clearly smaller – it amounts to approximately EUR 4.8 billion.
SAFE is intended to accelerate rearmament in Europe
The SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program is a modern EU financial instrument established in 2025 to radically strengthen the defense capabilities of member states. This mechanism is based on granting preferential, long-term loans with a total value of up to EUR 150 billion, which are intended for joint arms procurement and investments in the European industrial base of the defense sector.
Poland is the main beneficiary of this program with a pool of approximately EUR 43.7 billion, which allows the financing of key projects such as the Eastern Shield, the development of anti-drone systems, anti-aircraft defense and the modernization of military infrastructure.
These funds are characterized by very favorable repayment terms spread over 45 years with a 10-year grace period, and their spending is linked to the implementation of specific national plans approved by the European Commission.
