Around 20 countries are expected to obtain SAFE loans in order to support Ukraine’s defense industry.

European Commission spokesman Thomas Rainier said that nine EU member states have already submitted official loan applications to further invest in defense production, particularly in Ukraine, under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program. These countries include Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, Finland, Hungary, and Lithuania. Rainier is confident that this list will soon grow significantly. The EC expects at least 20 countries to apply for SAFE loans.

Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas warned that European roads, bridges, and railways are not capable of ensuring the quick movement of tanks and military personnel in the event of a large-scale conflict with Russia. Transferring equipment from Western Europe to its eastern flank could take weeks, or even months.

To solve this issue, the European Commission, together with NATO, has identified 500 infrastructure modernization projects along four strategic military corridors. The EU budget proposal for 2028-2034 allocates €17B for military mobility.