Kalinak: Second Round of SAFE Scheme Expected to Be Launched within Few Months

Bratislava, 3 October (TASR) - The second round of the European SAFE instrument is expected to be launched within a few months, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) stated on Saturday, adding that the European Union would like to focus on the development of the defence industry. "It's important to recognise that there's often an overlap of roles between the European Union and NATO. We're opposed to this, as it can lead to chaos," said the minister, noting that while the EU can support the continent's defence, it is NATO that ensures it. Slovakia has joined the European SAFE instrument, which provides European Union countries with loans for weapons and other military requirements. The Defence Ministry plans to finance or co-finance a total of nine investment projects using the loan. In November last year, the government approved the provision of financial assistance to Slovakia from the SAFE financial instrument. Following this, in November it submitted an official application to the European Commission for financial assistance, which included a national investment plan for the European defence industry drawn up by the Slovak Defence Ministry. In January this year, the Slovak Republic was approved for a loan of up to €2.317 billion. am