The European Commission on January 27 approved defence financing for Lithuania under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, preliminarily allocating the country more than 6.3 billion euros in loans, with the final amount to be confirmed once the agreement is signed.
European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said the latest round of SAFE investments demonstrated the EU’s commitment to strengthening its security capabilities with substantial financial backing.
“With the second wave of SAFE investments, Europe is backing its security ambitions with the necessary financial weight,” Kubilius said in a statement.
He added that the initiative encouraged EU member states to pursue joint procurement and focus on speed, scale and efficiency.
“This is a clear signal to European industry and our adversaries alike: Europe is serious about its strength and sovereignty. Our militaries need the best – and they need it on time,” he said.
The Commission also approved SAFE financing for seven other EU member states: Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, and Finland. (LRT)