Poland tops the EU’s SAFE defence-loan allocations with €43.734 billion, the largest share of the €150 billion Security Action for Europe instrument designed to speed joint procurement and close critical capability gaps. Nineteen member states requested envelopes; the Commission published a country-by-country “tentative allocation” confirming Poland as the biggest beneficiary, ahead of Romania (€16.680 billion) and France and Hungary (each €16.217 billion). Italy is next with €14.900 billion. Eight EU countries did not apply.
According to the Commission’s breakdown, the indicative envelopes are: Belgium €8.340 billion; Bulgaria €3.262 billion; Croatia €1.700 billion; Cyprus €1.182 billion; Czechia €2.060 billion; Denmark €0.047 billion; Estonia €2.661 billion; Finland €1.000 billion; France €16.217 billion; Greece €0.788 billion; Hungary €16.217 billion; Italy €14.900 billion; Latvia €5.680 billion; Lithuania €6.375 billion; Poland €43.734 billion; Portugal €5.841 billion; Romania €16.680 billion; Slovakia €2.317 billion; Spain €1.000 billion.
SAFE provides up to €150 billion in competitively priced, long-maturity loans raised by the EU and guaranteed by the EU budget. Projects are meant to prioritise common procurement and “buy-European” rules: across both categories of eligible equipment (from ammunition and artillery to air and missile defence, drones, cyber, strategic enablers and space assets), no more than 35% of component costs may originate outside the EU/EEA or Ukraine, with stricter conditions for higher-end systems. Trusted partners (e.g., Ukraine, EEA-EFTA; and countries with Security & Defence Partnerships) can join common procurement, though only EU states can take the loans.
Key financing terms include a 10-year grace period and first disbursements planned for early 2026, after national investment plans are submitted by 30 November 2025 and assessed by the Commission. Several countries that did not apply cited their ability to borrow on similarly favourable terms.
In Poland’s case, officials say the SAFE envelope is expected to underpin priority programmes such as the “East Shield” border-defence initiative and further procurement of air and missile defence, artillery, ammunition, drones and counter-drone systems. Repayments are to be spread out over roughly 45 years—until around 2070—making the loans particularly attractive for non-euro members like Poland.
