eu safe — The cabinet has approved the list of armaments that Cyprus intends to procure through the Security Action for Europe (Safe) programme.
- eu safe — The cabinet has approved the list of armaments that Cyprus intends to procure through the Security Action for Europe (Safe) programme.
Prepared by the defence ministry, the list signifies a strategic move towards enhancing Cyprus’s defensive capabilities. Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, while remaining tight-lipped about the specifics, emphasised the defensive nature of the armaments. “Under no circumstances do the armaments programmes on the list concern weapons systems with an offensive posture,” he stated, reflecting on Cyprus’s historical context as an occupied territory for over five decades.
The formal submission of the armaments list to the European Commission is scheduled for November 30. Minister Palmas explained that once the procedure receives final approval, Cyprus will have access to allocated funds amounting to €1.2 billion. This crucial financial backing will enable the country to effectively bolster its defence mechanisms.
Following the approval, the defence ministry plans to collaborate with the finance ministry to integrate these funds into the annual state budget. When asked about the potential suppliers for the procurement, Palmas noted that while France and Germany are among the likely candidates, there are various other countries involved in joint armament production.
The Safe programme aims to foster collaboration among EU member states and allies for common procurements of military hardware. All EU member states, along with Ukraine, four European Economic Area states—namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland—and six additional nations with defence agreements with the EU, including Albania, Japan, Moldova, North Macedonia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, are eligible to participate.
Safe will provide long-term, low-cost loans to assist EU nations in acquiring essential defence equipment. To facilitate this, EU member states must submit their national investment plans to the European Commission by the end of November. The Commission will assess these plans with the aim of initiating the first disbursements in early 2026.