BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Aroni)
The European Commission has cleared the national defense plans of eight member-states, including Greece, under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, proposing that the European Council approve financial assistance for these countries.
According to the Commission’s announcement, following a “rigorous assessment” of the National Defence Investment Plans, a proposal was submitted to the European Council for the approval of financial assistance for Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Finland. The Council has four weeks to adopt the implementing decisions. Once approved, the Commission is expected to make the first payments in March 2026.
In mid-January, the Commission had already approved the first eight national defense plans (those of Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, and Portugal). Of the 19 countries participating in the SAFE initiative, the plans of 16 countries have so far been approved, and the Commission is continuing the assessment of plans for France, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
In September 2025, the Commission approved the provisional allocation of SAFE funds, totaling 150 billion euros. For Greece, an amount of 787.67 million euros was approved, compared to the 1.2 billion euros it had requested at the end of July.
