Polish government officials and EU commissioners signed the SAFE program agreement on May 8, granting Poland 43.7 billion euros, sparking fierce legality disputes with the PiS opposition.
Agreement Signing and Funding
On Friday, May 8, EU commissioners Piotr Serafin and Andrius Kubilius, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Finance Minister Andrzej Domański signed the SAFE program agreement at Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s office. Poland is the largest beneficiary, receiving 43.7 billion euros from the European Commission, and is the first of 19 participating nations to complete the procedure.
Legality Disputes and National Sovereignty
Law and Justice (PiS) MP Jarosław Sellin claims the agreement was signed illegally under both Polish and European law. He argued that European law dictates national security remains the exclusive responsibility of member states, while the SAFE program shares security and military decision-making responsibility with Brussels.
Military Expenditure and Loan Terms
Approximately 190 million PLN in low-interest loans will be used primarily for the rapid arming of the Polish Army, specifically through purchases from European manufacturers. Sellin criticized the arrangement as a “terrible loan” with a duration comparable to the length of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL).
Political Conflict and Alternatives
During a Radio Zet broadcast, Piotr Zgorzelski of the Polish People’s Party (PSL) accused the PiS narrative of being contradictory and politically motivated. In response to questions about a PSL alternative to SAFE and President Karol Nawrocki’s “SAFE zero percent” proposal, Sellin indicated support for an option that utilizes Polish resources without external political constraints.
Comparative Arguments and Future Legal Review
Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus of the Left countered the allegations by noting that the United Right also took a large loan via the National Recovery Plan (KPO), arguing that if SAFE is illegal, then KPO must be as well. Meanwhile, Sellin stated that if PiS returns to power, they will legally review the agreement, asserting that someone must be held accountable.