Overview

• Italy lodged its formal application to the EU’s SAFE fund at a late-night Cabinet meeting in Palazzo Chigi, sealing its entry into the €150 billion low-interest loan facility for defense
• The government plans to request about €15 billion over five years to co-finance existing defence programmes without adding pressure to national budgets
• European Commission figures show 18 member states have applied for SAFE loans, submitting requests totaling at least €127 billion toward bolstering collective strategic autonomy
• Access to SAFE funds requires member states to propose jointly endorsed projects repayable over 45 years under very low interest terms
• Italy’s forthcoming project proposals are expected to target missile systems, radar modernization, dual-use technologies and aerospace capacity to strengthen its defense industry