EU plans to channel unused SAFE money into joint Ukraine defence programme, raising Polish concerns

During a recent address to the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen outlined the EU's upcoming priorities and revealed that surplus funds from the SAFE instrument will be redirected to a collaborative defence programme with Ukraine. The announcement caught Poland off guard, as the government had only weeks earlier indicated plans to seek a second SAFE grant. EU member states maintain that they, not the Commission, should decide how SAFE resources are spent, emphasizing that the loans must ultimately be repaid by the individual governments.

A European defence official, Andrius Kubilius, suggested that the earmarked money could support joint projects like Ukraine's FREYA anti-missile system. While the Commission has hinted that future allocations might expand beyond current uses, any changes will require consultation with all member states.