Kosiniak-Kamish: Money from SAFE is very needed

polska-zbrojna.pl 1 month ago

If additional funds arise, for example from the National Bank of Poland, to supplement the SAFE programme, this will mean the anticipation of larger purchases," said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish after gathering Andrius Kubilius, EU Defence Commissioner. “We are ready for 2 large projects,” assured the head of the MON.

Today Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space of the European Union, is visiting Warsaw. He met with Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish this morning. – The subject of our gathering in part was SAFE program. The program of building a strong and safe Poland, a strong and safe Europe and independency of European arms production," said the head of the Polish MON after the talks. The 2 politicians then went to visit the MESKO mill in Skarżysko-Kamienna. The plant belonging to the Polish Armed Forces Group is known primarily for the production of Lightning. These portable anti-aircraft rocket kits are 1 of Polish products that enjoy the top interest in the context of purchases made from SAFE loans.

The head of the MON at the conference after the gathering with Andrius Kubilius one more time argued in favour of Poland joining the EU programme. He pointed out the advantages of short supply lines. Events specified as the US-Israeli attack on Iran or the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt the average circulation of goods in the global economy and endanger the continuity of supply and production. Of course, the shortest lines are guaranteed by the home industry, which is why it is so crucial to get loans from SAFE. More than 80% of these funds are intended to finance contracts in Polish plants.

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Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz besides referred present to the proposal of president Karol Nawrocki to allocate funds from the National Bank of Poland alternatively of EU loans for arms. “If additional funds arise, for example from the NBP, to supplement the SAFE programme, this will mean the anticipation of larger purchases,” said the head of the MON. We're ready for 2 large projects. We have a reserve list of needs that could be financed in this way," he assured. According to Kosiniak-Kamish, the President's proposal should be treated as a complement to SAFE, not as its competition. First of all, due to the fact that the EU debt programme is ready and the first money will be available to Poland in a fewer weeks.

– The Americans clearly said: Europe must do more. Commissioner Kubilius replied to this by proposing, together with us, during the Polish Presidency, the SAFE programme, said the head of the MON. He thus referred to the argument of critics of the EU debt program, who claimed that utilizing SAFE would harm Polish-American relations. “Europe is armed, Europe is building its capacity, Europe is doing its best, it is giving much more than ever. She must be more liable for her safety. You can't do that without an investment. Large-scale investments. Therefore, Poland, as the largest beneficiary in Europe of the SAFE programme, is ready to implement it. We await the President's decision. I'm applying for it again. This is much needed money – noted Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish.

On the another hand, the EU Defence Secretary argued that thanks to loans from SAFE, it is possible to increase the production capacity of the European defence industry. The area that peculiarly requires investment is, in his view, the production of rocket defence measures. Kubilius recalled that Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary-general, late estimated that Europe needs a 40% increase in production. “Of course, it is up to Poland to decide how it will strengthen its defence potential,” said EU policies. "With SAFE we can strengthen the defence sector and if we do not usage these measures, this chance to build effective rocket protection will be lost," he added.

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