Estonia receives first €351.6 million payment under SAFE defence instrument in EU; accelerates priority defence investments

Estonia receives first €351.6 million payment under SAFE defence instrument

Publication date: 12 August 2026

On 12 August 2026, Estonia received its first payment of €351.6 million under the Security Action for Europe ( SAFE ) defence instrument, representing 15% of its total allocation of €2.3 billion.

SAFE is a €150 billion financial instrument providing loans to Member States. It primarily funds joint procurement of ammunition, missiles, air defence, and ground combat systems produced within the EU. It is part of the European Commission’s ReArm Europe

Readiness 2030 plan , which aims to unlock over €800 billion in defence investment across the European Union.

The pre-financing will help Estonia accelerate priority defence investments, strengthen resilience, and modernise its military capabilities in line with shared European goals. SAFE is designed to enable swift, co-ordinated action, improve the ability of European forces to work together, and strengthen Europe’s defence industry, including through joint procurement and closer cross-border co-operation.

Andrius Kubilius , Commissioner for Defence and Space said: “With this first SAFE payment, we are helping Estonia move quickly on key defence investments and strengthen its readiness and resilience. We are moving fast and decisively to help Member States on the EU Eastern Flank. SAFE is about enabling Member States to invest faster, procure more effectively together, and reinforce Europe’s defence industrial base.”

This pre-financing payment follows the completion of all required procedural steps and reflects the EU’s commitment to providing timely, practical support through SAFE. Further payments will follow, as agreed milestones and implementation are met.

The SAFE instrument is financed by EU borrowing on the financial markets. This enables competitively priced and attractively structured long-duration loans to requesting Member States. The terms of the SAFE loans benefit from the EU’s strong credit rating. All SAFE loans will be repaid by the beneficiary Member States.

Newsroom Consultation on the new European Defence Industrial Strategy Consultation to contribute to the Defence Omnibus Simplification Proposal Latest news Targeted consultation on EU Space Law Press Inquiries Events Transition Pathway See all

Consultation on the new European Defence Industrial Strategy

Consultation to contribute to the Defence Omnibus Simplification Proposal

Targeted consultation on EU Space Law

SSA | Europe’s Eyes on Space

The EU Observatory of Critical Technologies

EU Defence Industry Readiness 2030 Military Mobility BraveTech EU EDF | Developing tomorrow’s defence capabilities SAFE | Security Action for Europe EDIP | Forging Europe’s Defence ENDR | European Network of Defence-related Regions See all

EDF | Developing tomorrow’s defence capabilities

SAFE | Security Action for Europe

EDIP | Forging Europe’s Defence

ENDR | European Network of Defence-related Regions

EU Aeronautics Industry Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation Unmanned aircraft See all

Funding opportunities Public Procurement Space and Defence related funding Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) to boost investments in critical technologies Calls for proposals See all

Space and Defence related funding

Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) to boost investments in critical technologies