Bulgaria to receive over 2% of EU funds for rearmament

The mechanism provides for long-term low-interest loans to member states with a 10-year grace period for repayment. The money will support the purchase of critically needed defence equipment.

19 EU countries are participating in the programme. They will apply for funding outside their own national budgets and the loans will not be counted as a deficit. The aim of SAFE is to speed up the closing of existing armaments gaps and to support joint procurement of military equipment. The first payments are expected to start in early 2026.