"Poland has submitted a preliminary declaration to the European Commission for the acquisition of a debt under the EU SAFE programme", said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The full amount we are asking for is EUR 45 billion. "The acquisition of these funds is simply a real investment in the safety and improvement of our arms industry," added the head of the MON.
EUR 150 billion – that is the budget of the EU's SAFE debt programme, from which arms purchases and investments in defence are to be financed. It was adopted by the Council of Ministers for European Affairs in May. The Community countries now have time to prepare their proposals and the European Commission will decide which proposals will receive funding. "Poland has made a preliminary declaration to the European Commission on the acquisition of a debt under the EU SAFE programme", Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said today. "We want the money from this fund to strengthen the key capabilities of the Polish Army and our safety programs, including. Eastern Shield Program“The head of the MON added.
Poland has developed purchasing and investment projects for a full of EUR 45 billion. What will yet be allocated to our country depends on the number of applications and the allocation of funds between associate States. "The acquisition of these funds is simply a real investment in the safety and improvement of our arms industry. It besides strengthens the security, deterrence and defence of the full EU and NATO," Kosinik-Kamish said.
How does SAFE work?
SAFE assumes that the European Union lends low-interest and long-term loans to defence countries and European companies. The programme, with a budget of EUR 150 billion, is intended to strengthen global cooperation within the Union and to increase procurement in European industry. Therefore, a joint proposal from at least 2 countries will be required to finance the investment from SAFE, and the cost of components originating outside the EU, Ukraine, Norway and Switzerland will not be higher than 35% of the full cost of the product.
At the request of Poland, a temporary derogation will be applied from this first condition – in the first year of the life of SAFE The Union will let applications submitted by 1 country. The second rule, for which the Polish government effectively lobbied, was to let the financing of the investments already started.
With SAFE, expenditure may be financed in 7 areas: air and rocket defence; artillery systems; ammunition; drones and drone systems; strategical capabilities and critical infrastructure protection; military mobility and cyberspace, artificial intelligence and electronic war.
