Bulgaria has received €489.3 million in its first disbursement under the European Union's Security of Europe Instrument (SAFE), the European Commission announced. The payment represents 15% of the €3.3 billion allocated to Bulgaria under the program.
SAFE is a €150 billion EU financial instrument that provides loans to member states to support defense investments. Its main focus is joint procurement of ammunition, missiles, air defense systems and ground combat equipment manufactured in the European Union.
The instrument is part of the European Commission's ReArm Europe, or Readiness 2030, plan, which aims to mobilize more than €800 billion in defense investment across the bloc.
The first payment is intended to allow Bulgaria to accelerate priority defense projects, strengthen its resilience and modernize its military capabilities in line with common European objectives. SAFE is designed to support faster and more coordinated action, improve the ability of European armed forces to operate together and strengthen the EU's defense industrial base.
The program also encourages joint procurement and closer cooperation between member states across national borders, with the aim of improving efficiency and expanding European defense production.
