Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz indicated the SAFE loan agreement with the EU will likely be signed this Friday.
SAFE Agreement Imminent
During a press statement aboard a plane in Yerevan, Armenia, Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded to a question regarding the signing of the SAFE loan agreement.
Tusk stated, following a conversation with the Pope, that they would “probably be ready to sign the SAFE agreement on Friday,” urging patience as it is “only five days away.”
Defense Minister Confirms Friday Target
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz echoed this sentiment on Sunday, stating that if all goes well, the SAFE agreement will be signed on Friday, opening a credit line for equipment purchases.
He noted that some equipment is already contracted, specifically equipment related to anti-drone defense and new technologies, with a significant component dedicated to cybersecurity.
May 30th Deadline
The government aims to finalize the agreement with the European Union by May 30th, as this is the last day to utilize individual contracts allowing for the expenditure of EU funds within domestic facilities—a key aspect of the initial purchases under the program.
Risk of Joint Procurement
After this deadline, stricter EU regulations may necessitate joint purchases with EU partners, potentially removing the exclusive rights of Polish defense industries for these orders.
In such a scenario, Poland would need to seek partners within the EU for collaborative procurement projects.
Article Updated
This article is being updated.