Deal to allow UK access to major EU defence scheme could be reached in mid-November

Published on 31/10/2025 - 16:19 GMT+1

The European Commission connected Friday expressed assurance that a woody to let nan UK to return portion successful 1 of nan EU's flagship defence programmes will beryllium concluded complete nan adjacent 2 weeks pinch capable clip for personnel states to set their rearmament plans.

Brussels and London person been engaged successful talks since nan summertime to let nan UK to return portion successful nan bloc's SAFE programme aimed astatine boosting associated procurement of European-made limb systems arsenic nan EU looks to rearm aggressively successful consequence to Russia's threat.

EU personnel states person until nan extremity of November to taxable their nationalist plans detailing really they would walk the shares they person been allocated nether nan €150bn defence indebtedness scheme.

Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and Britain's Defence Secretary, John Healey, were expected to talk nan ongoing negotiations during a telephone telephone connected Friday, a Commission spokesperson confirmed successful consequence to a mobility by Euronews.

"Can we expect achromatic fume earlier 30 November? This is beautiful overmuch our hope. We're engaged successful heavy and very businesslike negotiations. We're advancing astatine very speedy speed," Thomas Regnier said.

"And our nonsubjective is to find a solution and to person an statement and to reason nan negotiations astir mid-November," he added.

SAFE includes a alleged European penchant whereby astatine slightest two-thirds of immoderate acquisition financed done it has to beryllium manufactured successful nan bloc.

As a 3rd country, nan UK's publication is presently constricted to a maximum of 35%. But if nan woody is struck, it will beryllium treated for illustration an EU personnel authorities pinch nary cap. This already extends to Norway, Ukraine and Iceland.

The British authorities would besides beryllium capable to return portion successful associated procurements pinch different European countries - astatine slightest 3 countries, including 2 EU personnel states, person to bargain together to suffice for SAFE - though it will not beryllium capable to pat into nan EU-issued loans.

One of nan apt points still connected nan array for negotiators is nan grade of nan UK's financial contribution.

But galore personnel states are besides apt to beryllium gladsome of nan UK's inclusion successful nan programme arsenic nan state is simply a awesome exporter of defence products, pinch nan EU accounting for a 3rd of its full defence exports from 2019 to 2023.

Striking nan woody earlier they person to taxable their nationalist plans would truthful let personnel states to perchance set them to see British-made components earlier nan deadline. The Commission has said it is looking to make nan first disbursements to personnel states toward nan extremity of nan first 4th of adjacent twelvemonth astatine nan latest.

Euronews has reached retired to nan British authorities for remark but had not received a reply by clip of publication.

Australia and Canada person both besides expressed interest successful striking akin deals pinch nan EU.