The European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) on 23 June 2026 reviewed implementation of the SAFE (Security and Defence Equipment) instrument, with MEPs pressing DG DEFIS Director-General Herald Ruijters on delays, joint procurement ambition, and Parliament's exclusion from co-legislation. Ruijters reported that 9 of 18 beneficiary states had signed loan agreements, with EUR 98 billion allocated from EUR 147 billion in requests, and a 60% common / 40% national procurement split expected to shift toward 70–30 or 80–20. He promised a September breakdown by capability and member-state participation.
MEPs pushed back on national flexibility. Hélder Sousa Silva (EPP) warned that single-state purchases could create a patchwork, while Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (EPP) stressed that SAFE should back collaborative procurement, not national budgets. Ruijters defended screening, noting national procurements were allowed only until May 2025 and required openness to others, and that the Commission rejected many projects lacking a common dimension. Sven Mikser (S&D) questioned how SAFE de-fragments industry given uneven distribution of defence firms; Ruijters rejected a revenue-balancing logic, citing benefits for SMEs and start-ups.
On capability gaps, Pierre-Romain Thionnet (PfE) and Tobias Cremer (S&D) raised concerns; Ruijters said all nine capabilities were covered, with drones/counter-drones at EUR 5 billion, and R&D belongs under EDF/ECF. Regarding Ukraine, Ruijters noted 19 plans foresee Ukraine-related actions worth over EUR 5 billion, but joint ventures face obstacles; talks on facilitation and IP exports continue. Pekka Toveri (EPP) pressed on Hungary and Italy delays; Ruijters said Hungary’s new government may reduce its request from EUR 16 billion, potentially freeing funds for a second call. Marta Wcisło (EPP) raised Poland’s EUR 43.7 billion allocation and a presidential veto limiting SAFE to military spending; Ruijters confirmed a workable solution and noted Poland can use EDIP/EDBCI for other needs. Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew) scheduled a September follow-up.
The debate exposed tensions between national flexibility and EU-level coordination. National authorities of beneficiary states, especially eastern flank countries, face pressure to align with common procurement to avoid fragmentation. The EU defence industry stands to benefit from larger, collaborative contracts but may face uneven access depending on member-state participation. SMEs could gain from supply-chain opportunities, while Ukraine may see delayed support if joint ventures remain stalled. The European Defence Agency's role in coordinating procurement may strengthen if the shift toward 70–30 or 80–20 common procurement materialises.