# EU opens new SAFE round worth 21.3 billion euros

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion
- Published: 2026-11-05
- Author: Mikael Berg
- Type: News · Section: Industry · Country: international
- Language: en — machine translation from sv; the sv version is authoritative: https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md
- Also available in: de (https://nordicdefencesector.com/de/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md), dk (https://nordicdefencesector.com/dk/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md), es (https://nordicdefencesector.com/es/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md), fi (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fi/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md), fr (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fr/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md), it (https://nordicdefencesector.com/it/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md), no (https://nordicdefencesector.com/no/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md), pl (https://nordicdefencesector.com/pl/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion.md)
- Primary source: https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/commission-invites-member-states-use-eur213-billion-under-safe-boost-defence-readiness-and-support-2026-10-29_en
- Tags: european commission, safe, ukraine, eu member states, readiness 2030, denmark, finland, air defence, ammunition, drones

> The European Commission is inviting member states to a second round of the SAFE loan instrument. Support for Ukraine is one of the priorities.

![EU opens new SAFE round worth 21.3 billion euros](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/6b48a0e8-4086-45c2-aadc-8bbbe6ae0100/public)
*EU-kommissionen*

**The European Commission is inviting all member states to take part in the second round of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument. This round covers 21.3 billion euros. The funds are intended to strengthen defence readiness and support for Ukraine, including through joint procurement with Ukraine.**

This is stated in [a notice](https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/commission-invites-member-states-use-eur213-billion-under-safe-boost-defence-readiness-and-support-2026-10-29_en) from the Commission's Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, published on 29 October. Member states must first indicate how much they wish to borrow. The Commission will then announce preliminary allocations within two weeks of the application deadline.

According to the Commission, member states should prioritise urgent needs for both Ukraine's and their own armed forces. This includes air and missile defence, drones and counter-drone capabilities, as well as ammunition and missiles. Countries are also encouraged to include joint procurement with Ukraine in their investment plans.

According to the [Commission's page on SAFE](https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/safe-security-action-europe_en), projects are generally based on joint procurement between at least two countries, at least one of which receives a SAFE loan. Ukraine and the EEA/EFTA countries (European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association) may participate under certain conditions, and individual member states are temporarily permitted to carry out procurements on their own. At least 65 percent of the cost of components must originate from the EU, Ukraine, or EEA/EFTA countries that meet the relevant conditions.

The second round forms part of the long-term SAFE loans, totalling 150 billion euros, which were adopted in May 2025. In November 2025, member states submitted their defence industry plans.

The EU has approved loan agreements for all 19 member states that chose to take part. The Commission has signed loan agreements with 16 of them. So far, nearly 13.5 billion euros have been paid out in advance to the eleven member states that requested it.

Denmark and Finland are among the 19 countries. NDS has previously reported on when [Denmark](https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/denmark-advances-in-safe) and [Finland](https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/finland-advances-in-the-eus-defense-program-safe) received approval for their plans, and on when [16 EU countries were given the green light for SAFE loans](https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/16-eu-countries-receive-green-light-for-safe-loans) in February.

The Commission describes SAFE as a key component of Readiness 2030. The aim is to accelerate defence investment, strengthen preparedness and resilience, and reinforce the defence industrial base through cooperation and joint procurement.

## FAQ

**What does the new SAFE round of EUR 21.3 billion cover?**

The second SAFE round covers EUR 21.3 billion and is part of the long-term loans totalling EUR 150 billion that were adopted in May 2025. The funds are intended to strengthen defence readiness and support for Ukraine, including through joint procurement. All member states are invited to participate and indicate how much they wish to borrow. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**Which areas should member states prioritise according to the Commission?**

The Commission wants countries to prioritise urgent needs in air and missile defence, drones and counter-drone capabilities, and ammunition and missiles, both for Ukraine and for their own armed forces. Countries are also urged to include joint procurement with Ukraine in their investment plans. This reflects the instrument's dual purpose of strengthening both national readiness and support for Ukraine. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**How does joint procurement work within the SAFE instrument?**

Projects are generally based on joint procurement between at least two countries, where at least one country receives a SAFE loan. Ukraine and EEA/EFTA countries may participate under certain conditions, and individual countries are temporarily allowed to procure on their own. At least 65 per cent of the component cost must come from the EU, Ukraine, or qualified EEA/EFTA countries. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**By how much has Hungary reduced its requested amount?**

On 15 October, Hungary submitted a new plan in which the requested amount was reduced to just over EUR 5.4 billion, of which approximately EUR 811 million is to be paid out in advance. Several other member states have also requested lower amounts than originally agreed in November 2025. This information appears in the Commission's proposal to the Council dated 28 October. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

**How far have SAFE loan disbursements progressed so far?**

The EU has approved loan agreements for all 19 participating member states, and the Commission has signed agreements with 16 of them. So far, almost EUR 13.5 billion has been paid out in advance to the eleven countries that requested it, including Denmark and Finland, which had previously received approval for their plans. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-05.

---
Nordic Defence Sector — independent newsroom covering the Nordic defence sector. When citing, attribute "Nordic Defence Sector" and link https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/eu-opens-new-safe-round-worth-213-billion. Site guide: https://nordicdefencesector.com/llms.txt