During the summer recess, Denmark and Ireland brought to twenty the number of European Union countries that have officially applied for loans from ‘SAFE’, the European instrument aimed at increasing national military spending (see EUROPE 13691/2).
The European Commission has also forwarded to the EU Council a proposal to initiate negotiations with the United Kingdom and Canada so that the military industries of these two third countries can participate in projects co-financed by ‘SAFE’, Thomas Regnier, a spokesman for the EU institution responsible for defence issues, confirmed to Agence Europe on Tuesday 26 August.
London, in May (see EUROPE 13643/1), and Ottawa, in June (see EUROPE 13665/6), signed security and defence partnerships with the EU, an essential condition for their participation in the €150 billion ‘SAFE’ instrument.
At the end of November, the Commission will provide an assessment of the national plans submitted to it by the Member States, including investment projects and the amounts required. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)