On 20 May, the European Parliament formally approved Canada’s accession to the SAFE programme. This means that Canada will be able to participate in joint projects and arms procurement initiatives with EU member states. According to MEP Andrzej Halicki, this may mark the beginning of broader involvement by non-European partners in strengthening the continent’s security.
“The European Parliament’s approval of Canada’s participation in the SAFE programme proves that together — beyond geographical boundaries — we are building the most serious system not only for supporting the defence industry, but also for security. The European Union is an organisation that non-European countries also look to with hope for partnership,” Andrzej Halicki, Member of the European Parliament from Civic Coalition, told Newseria.
On 20 May this year, the European Parliament officially gave the green light for Canada’s participation in the SAFE programme, the Security Action for Europe instrument. The bilateral agreement on this matter was approved by representatives of EU member states in December 2025. Under its provisions, procurement agreements will have to ensure that the cost of components originating from outside the EU, EEA-EFTA countries and Ukraine does not exceed 35% of the estimated cost of the components of the final product.
“Canada will not be a beneficiary of cheap loans or financial support mechanisms. However, it may be a contracting party and a participant in the process as a partner,” Halicki explained. “Canada is the first non-European country to join, and I can say that there are also others interested in joint procurement. This is an opportunity, for example, for the Polish arms industry, once we have full supplies required and expected by the Polish army.”
Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, the government plenipotentiary for the SAFE programme, said that Canada has decided to purchase from the Polish defence industry. It is interested, among other things, in unmanned systems. Part of Polish military equipment is being presented at the CANSEC defence trade fair currently taking place in Ottawa.
During the event, on Tuesday 26 May, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, met with his Canadian counterpart. The talks concerned, among other issues, the defence industry and joint arms procurement under the SAFE programme.
“We want the SAFE programme, which Canada has joined as the largest country outside the European Union, to become a symbol of a lasting connection between Europe and Canada,” the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.
The defence ministers also discussed cyber defence forces, military training, support for Ukraine and preparations for the NATO summit in Ankara. The European Union and Canada signed a security and defence partnership during a summit held on 23 June 2025.
EU strengthens its role in defence cooperation
“The European Union is in fact becoming the strongest player when it comes to building future security in the world. Of course, we are not saying that it replaces NATO. We are talking about strengthening the European defence industry, with the inclusion of non-European partners,” Halicki emphasised.
“In terms of strategic cooperation, for example anti-drone systems, we can see what is happening in the Persian Gulf. These are exactly the same needs. It is certainly also a reason to talk about SAFE 2 or another formula strengthening the security of member states,” he added.
According to Halicki, this is part of broader changes taking place in the European Union, which over the past four years has placed strong emphasis on defence and armaments.
“We have a separate committee in the European Parliament devoted to security, and there is a Commissioner for Defence and Space — Andrius Kubilius, incidentally one of the co-authors of the SAFE programme, which was created during the work of the European People’s Party working group two years ago. This proves that integration will continue,” the MEP said.
He noted that Europe previously had neutral states, such as Sweden and Finland, but after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine they ceased to be neutral. In his view, today’s world no longer allows states to remain indifferent, because doing so would endanger security.
“This is why so many countries look towards Europe as a strategic partner. There is a referendum on EU membership in Iceland, a debate is underway in Norway. We have aspiring countries: Moldova, Armenia, the Western Balkans — there are many of them. Turkey is also in the long queue of aspiring countries, and finally the Gulf states,” Halicki said.
Defence spending becomes a shared priority
According to the politician, EU member states appear to agree on the need to invest in defence. This sense of urgency intensified after the US and Israeli attack on Iran, when Iranian missiles reached Cyprus.
“I do not see any country that fails to understand the need to invest in defence. Quite the opposite — this list is now becoming much longer,” Halicki said.
He added that the problem lies rather with some political groups and what he described as a strange perception of politics, in which security is treated as an element of political struggle aimed at taking power. This may involve blocking projects, voting against them or, at the very least, not supporting them.
“However, I believe that at the level of the European Council and governments there is full unanimity. Security is the number one priority,” he said.
Border and dual-use infrastructure in focus
An important area of EU security investment is the strengthening of border infrastructure and dual-use infrastructure.
“We have the East Shield project supported by European funds. We have an entire pillar which, in the next budget perspective, will address needs related to security policy, but most importantly, will also support dual-use projects. We are talking about facilities that can serve civilians on a daily basis, but in the event of a threat change their character into infrastructure important from the point of view of security policy,” the MEP explained.
In January this year, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, announced that PLN 22 billion from the National Recovery Plan would be allocated to the new Security and Defence Fund. The funds are to be invested, among other things, in the development of protective buildings and civil protection infrastructure, the construction and modernisation of dual-use infrastructure, railway infrastructure and cybersecurity.
The Ministry of National Defence is also taking steps to increase military mobility. On 11 May this year, it signed an agreement with PKP Cargo aimed at both maintaining and developing rail transport in a dual-use format. In peacetime, the connections will be used commercially, while in a crisis, increased defence readiness or wartime situation, they may be used for military purposes.
