Establishing the Security action for Europe (SAFE) - a strategic shit in the EU defense policy

Dabić Dragana (Institut za međunarodnu politiku i privredu, Beograd), ddabic@diplomacy.bg.ac.rs
Gavrilović Jefimija (Fakultet političkih nauka, Beograd), jefimijagavrilovic01@gmail.com

The paper analyses the main normative elements and aspects of the Regulation establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) and strengthening the European defence industry, including: the legal basis for its adoption, objectives, mechanisms for its implementation, the special regime for public procurement, complementarity with other current supranational instruments in this domain, as well as the role of the European Union institutions in its implementation. The analysis emphasises the potential effects on relations with third countries, primarily EU candidate countries, and also highlights the implications of including Ukraine in the European mechanism for financing the procurement of defence products. The entry into force of the Regulation in question on May 29, 2025, marks a turning point in the development of the strategic dimension of the European Union’s activities. Created as a response to the current security and geopolitical situation, it has far‐reaching consequences for the European constitutional order. It is concluded that the most significant achievement of the Regulation – the so‐called SAFE financial instrument – should not be seen as another in a series of sectoral EU instruments, but as an expression of a broader transformation of the European order and European strategic culture.

Keywords: European Union, defence policy, financial instrument, SAFE, Readiness 2030, strategic autonomy, Ukraine, fiscal integration