President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk met on March 10 at the Presidential Palace to discuss the EU’s SAFE program.
Meeting at Presidential Palace
On Tuesday (March 10), a meeting took place at the Presidential Palace between President Karol Nawrocki and, among others, Prime Minister Donald Tusk regarding the “SAFEzero percent” proposal, intended as an alternative to the EU program. The presidential bill was submitted to the Sejm on the same day.
According to unofficial information from Onet, the meeting began with formal exchanges of words and false courtesies, but politicians quickly moved on to the topic. The head of government directly asked the president if he had decided to veto the SAFE bill, to which Nawrocki replied that this was not true.
Nawrocki’s Veto Plans Thwarted
According to Onet, Nawrocki had planned to veto the bill on Wednesday (March 11), but Tusk “thwarted his plans.” Premier blew up Nawrocki’s plan, which he wanted to announce as a veto that day. During the conversation at the Presidential Palace, Nawrocki claimed he needed time to think but indicated that the EU SAFE is difficult for him to accept in its current form.
Disappointed Government Officials
Government representatives left the Presidential Palace disappointed with the course of the meeting. The head of government was visibly shaken, which was evident at the press conference. One minister stated that they expect the worst, adding that Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz cannot understand why this matter is a subject of political dispute.
EU SAFE Program
The bill currently on the president’s desk provides for creating a special fund to implement the EU’s SAFE program, under which Poland is to receive approximately 43.7 billion euros in low-interest loans for rapid purchases of military equipment in Europe. Nawrocki has until March 20 to sign or veto the bill.
Nearly 90% of the amount is to go to Polish industry. Poland is the largest beneficiary of the EU program, with funds to be used for 139 projects supporting the military, police, Border Guard, and State Protection Service.
However, SAFE raises doubts from the president and the opposition, who point to many unknowns regarding loan repayment and possible conditions for fund disbursement by the European Commission. If the president doesn’t sign the bill, the government will use the Fund for Supporting the Armed Forces to obtain EU funds.
Nawrocki and Glapiński’s Alternative
Last week, Nawrocki and Glapiński unexpectedly presented their “polskiego SAFE zero percent” program, which they called a “sovereign and secure” alternative to the EU SAFE. They claim that with support from the National Bank of Poland, Poland could allocate a similar amount for supporting the Polish military on more favorable terms.
The government side has declared willingness to use additional funds for defense not as an alternative but as a supplement to the EU program. Government representatives have noted that the NBP has generated losses in recent years.
