Poland, France and Italy were among the biggest claimants for money under a new EU loan scheme to boost defence spending, Brussels said Tuesday.

Warsaw led the way by snapping up loans worth almost 44 billion euros ($51.6 billion) from the EU's 150-billion-euro programme designed to help member states borrow money at lower rates.

Next came Romania on 16.7 billion euros, France and Hungary on 16.2 billion and Italy on 15 billion, according to preliminary figures.

The EU scheme launched in May -- which sees loans backed up by the bloc's central budget -- is a key part of efforts to help member states ramp up their military budgets.

The funds are intended to be spent on strengthening key areas like air defence and could also go towards helping to arm Ukraine.

In the face of the threat fr

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