Date: 2026-03-04Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/417 of 11 February 2026 on making the financial assistance under Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 available to Croatia
**Executive Summary**
This document confirms that Croatia's request for financial assistance under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument has been approved. The Council Implementing Decision, dated 11 February 2026, authorises a loan of up to EUR 1,700,000,000, with an initial pre-financing payment of EUR 255,000,000. The decision takes effect upon notification to the Republic of Croatia.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Approval of Financial Assistance for Croatia**
* Croatia submitted a request for financial assistance under Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 on 28 November 2025, accompanied by a European defence industry investment plan.
* The European Commission assessed the request and found it compliant with the conditions set out in Regulation (EU) 2025/1106, particularly Articles 4, 7(2), and 16.
* This Council Implementing Decision confirms the approval of financial assistance for Croatia.
**Financial Details**
* The Union will provide Croatia with a loan amounting to a maximum of EUR 1,700,000,000.
* A pre-financing payment of EUR 255,000,000 will be made available by the Commission.
**Procedural Aspects**
* The decision is based on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1106.
* The loan agreement will include measures to protect the Union's financial interests.
* This Decision shall take effect on the date of its notification to the Republic of Croatia.
**Impact Analysis**
**Croatia**
* **Impact:** Croatia will receive significant financial assistance for its defence industry investment plan, up to EUR 1.7 billion. This will enable it to implement planned defence procurement activities, potentially speeding up industry adjustments, improving defence product availability, and enhancing interoperability. A pre-financing amount will provide immediate liquidity.
* **Action Required:** Croatia needs to finalise and enter into the loan agreement, ensuring compliance with all terms and conditions, particularly those protecting the Union's financial interests.
**The Union (European Union)**
* **Impact:** The Union will disburse significant financial assistance, requiring management of the loan agreement and ensuring the protection of its financial interests. The decision reflects the Union's commitment to supporting its Member States' defence industrial capabilities.
* **Action Required:** The Commission will make the loan support available to Croatia, including the pre-financing payment. The Union will ensure the loan agreement is established with appropriate measures for financial protection.
Key Entities Referenced
Regulation (EU) 2025/1106: The primary regulation establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument and outlining the conditions for financial assistance, relevant to Croatia's request.
Croatia: The Member State receiving financial assistance under the SAFE instrument.
Security Action for Europe (SAFE): The initiative or program under which financial assistance is being provided for the European defence industry.
Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/417: The specific decision confirming that Croatia's request for financial assistance under Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 has been assessed and approved.
European Commission: The body responsible for assessing requests and making proposals for financial assistance under the SAFE instrument.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/417 4.3.2026
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2026/417
of 11 February 2026
on making the financial assistance under Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 available to Croatia
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 of 27 May 2025 establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)
through the Reinforcement of the European Defence Industry Instrument(1), and in particular Article 8 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Commission launched a call for expressions of interest to receive financial assistance under the Security Action
for Europe (SAFE) through the Reinforcement of the European Defence Industry Instrument (the ‘SAFE instrument’),
requesting Member States to provide for an indicative maximum and minimum loan amount. By 29 August 2025,
19 Member States had expressed interest in obtaining financial assistance under Regulation (EU) 2025/1106.
(2) On 9 September 2025, the Commission notified the requesting Member States of the tentative allocation of the loan
amounts per Member State.
(3) On 28 November 2025, Croatia submitted a request in accordance with Article 7(1) of Regulation (EU) 2025/1106
for financial assistance (the ‘request’) accompanied by a European defence industry investment plan (the ‘plan’).
(4) The Commission assessed the request against the applicable conditions laid down in Regulation (EU) 2025/1106.
(5) In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2025/1106, the plan was duly reasoned and substantiated and set
out a description of the defence products and of the other products for defence purposes, and where relevant,
a description of the foreseen involvement of Ukraine in the planned activities, expenditures and measures, or of
foreseen actions for the benefit of Ukraine.
(6) The Commission found that the request fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2025/1106
for using the SAFE instrument. In particular, it ensures that activities, expenditures and measures related to defence
products or other products for defence purposes are carried through common procurements or single
procurements. Such activities, expenditures and measures are also to have one or more of the following objectives:
speeding up the adjustment of the defence industry to structural changes, improving the timely availability of
defence products or ensuring interoperability and interchangeability across the Union.
(7) The Commission also found that the request contains a description of the planned measures aimed at ensuring
compliance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 and the procurement rules set out in that Regulation,
including a description of how that compliance is to be ensured.
(8) As a result, in accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) 2025/1106, the Commission found that the request
fulfils the conditions laid down in that Regulation, in particular those provided for in Article 4, Article 7(2) and
Article 16.
(9) In accordance with Article 8(5) of Regulation (EU) 2025/1106, the Commission has considered the existing and
expected financial needs of Croatia as well as requests for financial assistance pursuant to that Regulation already
submitted or planned to be submitted by other Member States, while applying the principles of equal treatment,
solidarity, proportionality and transparency.
(1) OJ L, 2025/1106, 28.5.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/1106/oj.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/417/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 4.3.2026
(10) This Decision should be without prejudice to the outcome of any procedures under Regulation (EU) 2024/1263 of
the European Parliament and of the Council(2) and under Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97(3).
(11) This Decision should be without prejudice to the relevant rules adopted pursuant to Article 322 of the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, in particular Regulations (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509(4) and (EU, Euratom)
2020/2092(5) of the European Parliament and of the Council.
(12) In accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) 2025/1106, the loan agreement to be entered into with Croatia
should set out all appropriate measures necessary for the protection of the Union’s financial interests,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
It is hereby confirmed that the Commission has assessed the request for financial assistance under the Security Action for
Europe (SAFE) through the Reinforcement of the European Defence Industry Instrument submitted by Croatia on
28 November 2025 and found that the request fulfils the conditions laid down in Regulation (EU) 2025/1106, in particular
those in Article 4, Article 7(2) and Article 16. Financial assistance shall be made available to Croatia accordingly.
Article 2
1. The Union shall make available to Croatia a loan amounting to a maximum of EUR 1 700 000 000.
2. The Commission shall make loan support available to Croatia. An amount of EUR 255 000 000 shall be made
available as a pre-financing payment.
Article 3
This Decision shall take effect on the date of its notification.
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Croatia.
Done at Brussels, 11 February 2026.
For the Council
The President
K. KALLAS
(2) Regulation (EU) 2024/1263 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2024 on the effective coordination of
economic policies and on multilateral budgetary surveillance and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97 (OJ L, 2024/1263,
30.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1263/oj).
(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit
procedure (OJ L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 6, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1997/1467/oj).
(4) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules
applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj).
(5) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of
conditionality for the protection of the Union budget (OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/2092/oj).
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/417/oj