Modernization of the army, tens of billions from Brussels and a seismic chamber boiling with shouts. The debate on the Act on the Financial Instrument for Enhancing Security, which is to open Poland the way to money from the EU SAFE programme, has present turned into a political battle.
Let us remind that the SAFE measures are intended to service what politicians of all options are committed to: strengthening anti-aircraft and rocket defence, building fresh border guards systems and speeding up the supply of equipment for the military. The government argues that this is simply a chance for years-long programs to gain a financial boost, and Poland stopped putting off further stages of modernization for later.
In order for the funds from SAFE to be available at all, the government must make a peculiar fund to be managed by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. This is what the FIZB Act does – it transfers the service of billions from SAFE beyond the classical budget, to a dedicated financial instrument, which is to act faster and more flexibly than average budgetary procedures.
Kosniak-Kamish did not bite his tongue
The performance of the head of the MON was 1 of the most emotional moments of the Friday meeting. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz started by reminding the background: Russian aggression, threats to NATO's east flank and the fact that "time has become 1 of our most dangerous opponents". Modernisation, arms contracts and equipment supplies are stretched over the years, and SAFE is expected to accelerate this process, giving cheaper backing than commercial loans.
Our opponent is time. Modernization, shopping, transportation of equipment, this is something the Polish military is facing today. We request extremist acceleration," said Kosiniak-Kamish.
Kosiniak-Kamysz tried to strike a delicate point against the bill, reminding the amendments tabled inactive in 2022.
Why are you hypocrites? In 2022, we tabled an amendment to the Law on Defence of the Motherland. Mr Bejda, the then opposition MP, together with Mr Siemoniak. 50 out of 50. 50 percent of expenditure in the Polish arms industry, 50 percent abroad. You vote against. As in SAFE there is 89 percent for the Polish arms industry, you are against – Kosiniak-Kamish said.
In his narrative, the dispute over SAFE is not a method clash of lawyers, but a choice between "strong, armed Poland" and "a weak country without a shield".
At 1 point in the speech of the head of MON Macierewicz, he began to shout and ask where Patriots were. Kosiniak-Kamish replied:
– The SAFE program is based on the modernization of the Polish army outlined for many years. You know very well what projects are being implemented there. The word "Patrioty" means the Vistula program. It must be implemented and with SAFE it will be implemented faster. Are you against it? – said the head of the MON.
At the end of his speech Kosiniak-Kamish recalled that sovereignty is not a declaration, but a value.
Sovereignty does not defend itself with your shouts. Sovereignty defends itself by force of the Polish army. Sovereignty is not a declaration. It's a value you gotta build and have money for it. Now there is simply a clear division in this room. It's not a divided whether you're behind SAFE or against. This is simply a division, whether you are besides strong, safe Poland or besides weak and susceptible – he ended the politician.
