EU's Stance on Turkish Companies in the SAFE Funding Tool
August 14, 2025
The European Union has not made agreements with Turkey in the fields of security and defense, meaning Turkish companies are not allowed to participate in procurements under the SAFE funding tool. EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius emphasized that the EU protects the security and defense interests of its member states, including Cyprus. MEPs Loukas Fourlas and Michalis Hadjipantelas raised the issue of Turkey's occupation of European territory and its provocative rhetoric. The Commissioner noted that SAFE procurements must serve the EU's objectives exclusively, and only entities meeting strict conditions may participate.