Although it is still unclear what share of loans under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program EU member states will allocate in Ukraine’s interests, it is already evident that Europeans are interested in the potential of Ukraine’s defense industry.
European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said this in a comment to a Ukrinform correspondent. Today, Kubilius took part in the traditional ceremony of unfurling Ukraine’s national flag in front of the European Parliament on the occasion of Ukraine’s National Flag Day.
“Information about how much of the SAFE loans EU Member States will use to support Ukraine will be available in a few months’ time, but at this point informally we hear that quite a number of Member States are interested in using the SAFE instrument for Ukraine,” Kubilius said.
“That is a recognition that Ukraine’s defense industry is attractive for the EU. That is also a recognition that EU instruments and programs can be very helpful for Ukraine,” he stressed.
He recalled that the SAFE tool was created with Ukraine in mind — although Ukraine itself cannot take the loan directly, EU member states that can do so may use these loans to buy “for Ukraine, in Ukraine, and/or with Ukraine.”
As reported, the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program was proposed by the European Commission in March as a financial element of a broader plan to stimulate Europe’s defense industry, increase the production of military equipment and ammunition, and replenish stockpiles for Europe’s rearmament.
The program is capped at €150 billion, meaning that the EU executive will have to decide how to distribute the funds among member states in the form of loans.
Even though demand already exceeds the available budget, the European Commission still wants other countries to join SAFE.
Eighteen EU member states have already expressed interest in receiving loans worth a total of €127 billion under the defense tool, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, France, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.
SAFE loans will go directly to EU member states. However, Ukraine — which has been allowed to participate in defense production projects under the program — must already actively engage with European manufacturers to organize joint work, the European Commission’s spokesperson has previously stated.
EU member states must submit detailed spending plans under SAFE to the European Commission by the end of November 2025.
During today’s speech in Brussels at the traditional Ukrainian flag-raising ceremony in front of the European Parliament on the occasion of National Flag Day, Andrius Kubilius also recalled the 86th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, emphasizing that there must not be a new division of Europe into spheres of influence, and that Ukraine has the right to choose its own destiny.
He stressed that no one — including Putin — has the right to veto such a choice.
Source: Ukraine’s defense industry attractive for EU – European Commissioner
