The Czech Republic received its first payment from the EU defence instrument SAFE on 6 October 2026. According to the European Commission, it amounts to EUR 309 million (about CZK 7.6 billion), which is 15 per cent of the total allocation of EUR 2 billion (about CZK 49 billion).[1][2] The money from the defence loan is meant for Leopard 2A8 tanks and Tatra T-815 vehicles. The loan is also to finance the possibility of military use of the D11 motorway.[1][2]
The SAFE instrument
The European Union set up SAFE as a loan instrument of up to EUR 150 billion from which member states can borrow for defence investment and joint procurement. Nineteen EU countries, including Czechia, joined. The government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala applied for the loan, and the government of Andrej Babiš modified the application at the beginning of 2026. Babiš had criticised the previous cabinet for applying for a low amount.[1]
Belgium also received its first payment on the same day, EUR 1.2 billion, or 15 per cent of its allocation of EUR 8.3 billion. In a statement the Commission said that pre-financing will help both countries speed up priority defence investment, strengthen resilience and modernise military capabilities.[1]
Chronology
- — The Czech Republic received its first payment from the EU defence instrument SAFE, 309 million euros or 15 percent of the 2 billion euros allocated, the European Commission announced. ČTK / České noviny ČT24
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 6 October 2026
- ČT24 — 6 October 2026