eu funding — eu funding — The European Commission has confirmed that Cyprus will receive €1,181,503,924 as part of the Security Action for Europe (Safe) programme. This significant funding is intended to bolster defence capabilities across the island.
Eu funding: Major Funding Allocation
Approved on Thursday, this funding is part of a broader €150 billion package allocated by the Commission to enhance security measures across the EU. Alongside Cyprus, 18 other member states are set to benefit from this initiative, highlighting a collective effort to strengthen European defence.
Comparative Funding Figures
Among the member states, Poland stands to gain the largest sum, receiving a staggering €43.7 billion. Romania and France will each receive just over €16 billion. Greece’s allocation is slightly less than that of Cyprus, with just under €788 million earmarked for its defence needs.
Strategic Joint Procurements
The Safe programme encourages EU member states and allies to collaborate on common military procurements. It is envisaged that at least two participating countries will be involved in any given procurement, fostering a united front in defence activities.
Participation and Collaboration
All EU member states are eligible for the Safe programme, extending its reach to Ukraine and four European Economic Area states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Additionally, six countries with common defence agreements with the EU, including Albania, Japan, Moldova, North Macedonia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, are also included.
The Cypriot government has formally expressed its intention to engage in the Safe programme’s common procurement instrument. This was communicated during a visit by officials from the EU’s directorate-general for the defence industry and space (DG-Defis) to the island in July.
Future Collaborations on Defence
Panayiotis Hadjipavlis, the procurement director at Cyprus’s defence ministry, indicated in July that the government is actively seeking partnerships with friendly member states, particularly Greece. This collaboration aims to identify joint programmes for efficient procurement, reinforcing Cyprus’s defence strategy.
