President Karol Nawrocki states no external pressure will influence his decision on the EU SAFE program by March 20 deadline.
SAFE Program Decision Deadline
President Karol Nawrocki during Thursday’s press conference with the President of Romania commented on the EU’s SAFE program. The bill to implement the EU program is waiting for his signature.
Nawrocki has until March 20 to make a decision.
No External Pressure on Presidential Decision
“As for the time and signing, I have a statutory, constitutional time to sign or not sign the law proposed by the parliamentary majority and no one will put pressure on the President of Poland when I should sign, when I should not sign,” stated Nawrocki.
Nawrocki Questions Nervous Waiting for Decision
The President also reminded that in the near future he will invite Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Prime Minister Head of MON Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and NBP President Adam Glapiński to discuss the assumptions of his proposed “SAFE 0%.”
Nawrocki, when asked if he sees room for combining both programs, said he is surprised that “so nervously waiting” for his decision in this matter. “Why, without examining the situation and financing possibilities (armaments – ed.) without a burdensome and conditional loan from the European Union (…), so nervously waiting for the president’s decision regarding the European SAFE?” he asked.
Polish vs. EU SAFE Programs
President Karol Nawrocki and NBP President Adam Glapiński presented on Wednesday the proposal for a “Polish SAFE 0%.” Unlike the EU program, the “Polish SAFE” would be financed with the help of the NBP.
Politicians from the ruling camp emphasize that this proposal cannot be an alternative to the EU program, it must be a supplement. “To this mechanism, we need on the one hand the agreement of the president, on the other hand the initiative and agreement of the NBP president, but also the commitment of the government. In this triangle, in this cooperation, Poland can afford to introduce ‘Polish SAFE’,” said Nawrocki.
Meanwhile, Glapiński assured that the NBP is ready to cooperate with the government and the president on this matter. “Our foreign exchange reserves are the reserves of all Poles. These are Poland’s reserves entrusted to the management of the National Bank of Poland,” he stated.
Poland as Largest SAFE Beneficiary
Poland is the largest beneficiary of the EU loan program SAFE – it can obtain approximately 43.7 billion euros, or nearly 200 billion zlotys.
According to government declarations, 89% of the funds from SAFE are to go to Polish defense companies. The money is to be used to strengthen Poland’s security.
