Poland to invest EU billions in military

On Friday, the Polish parliament passed a law creating a mechanism to use €43.7 billion from European Union loans to support the military. Poland is the largest recipient of the €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, which aims to strengthen Europe’s armed forces.

However, the approved law puts President Karol Nawrocki in a position to decide whether to veto it, as supporters are calling on him to do so.

The Law and Justice Party (PiS) claims that the agreement could limit arms purchases from the United States and contain conditions allowing Germany to interfere in Polish affairs. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government rejects these claims and stresses that the fund is not bound by such conditions.

According to Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, cheap financing from SAFE is necessary in view of the growing threat from Russia.

The law will allow the state development bank BGK to manage the fund disbursing the money. Tusk noted that a possible veto would mean significant losses and would limit the full use of the programme. President Nawrocki has not yet announced his position on the law.

(reuters, max)