We don't ask anyone in the Union for anything, due to the fact that in this case, no 1 does anyone's favor. Poland will invest PLN 200 billion in defence next year, and we anticipate everyone in Europe to treat the safety of the east border equally seriously," said Donald Tusk during his visit to Krynka where he met soldiers guarding the border with Belarus.
– The Ukrainian War and the past weeks clearly show that no concessions, no subtle play with Putin and aggressive Russia lead to success," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a press conference organized at the dam guarding the Polish-Belarusian border. The Head of Government, along with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, took part in the briefing of the Polish Army and Border defender command staff today. Soldiers and officers of these formations jointly defend the Polish border and argue attempts at illegal migration, which organize Belarusian services as part of the hybrid war. – Poland, Europe, NATO and the United States The United States must again be tough, determined, and solidarity toward this next version of the evil empire. No more concessions! We must be tough and well prepared," added Tusk.
The Head of Government pointed out that the Polish-Belarusian border is besides the border of the European Union, which Poland must defender and in defence of which the Union must besides allocate its resources. In his opinion, Ursula von der Leyen's visit will aid to find arguments to convince all members of the Community about the necessity of specified investments. "I am pleased that the defence programmes, concerning the arms production and cooperation of the European Union countries, in terms of defence of the border and territory, are financed by the Union and that the full Union sees that this is the central place, that this is the most crucial problem to solve, and so financing infrastructure and support for the efforts of states on a possible front line," said Donald Tusk. In this context, the head of government recalled SAFE programme, launched this year by the European Commission. “We apply for tens of billions of euros and we talk about it without complexes, we don’t ask anyone for anything due to the fact that in this case no 1 does anyone any favor,” Tusk said. – We will invest PLN 200 billion in defence, defence manufacture and Polish army from our own resources next year. So, we take our responsibilities seriously and anticipate everyone in Europe to treat the issue of the safety of the east border equally seriously and to take a firm stand towards the Russian aggressor," said the Prime Minister.
– I am here present to express full solidarity with Poland as a front country," said Ursula von der Leyen. “Poland has been the mark of cynical and deliberate hybrid attacks for years and I want to guarantee that you have Europe’s support,” added German politicians. The president of the European Commission has stated that the change in the approach to safety will be seen in the EU budget for a further seven-year period. In the financial plan for the period 2028-2034, the Union will triple its spending on migration management and protection of external borders and the countries bordering Russia and Belarus will receive additional backing from Brussels. On the another hand, expenditure on expanding military mobility will increase 10 times and the budget for direct defence investment will be more than 5 times.
As von der Leyen assured, the Union besides takes decisions on a much shorter implementation date than budget expenditure from 2028 to 2034. Reminded successes of the Polish Presidency in the EU in the first half of 2025the adoption of the ReArm Europe plan and the launch of the SAFE programme. The erstwhile assumes an increase in defence spending in the European Union of EUR 800 billion by the end of this decade.
SAFE is, in turn, a fresh European Commission debt mechanics from which arms purchases and investments in defence are to be financed. His budget is EUR 150 billion. “19 countries, including Poland, have already submitted their applications to SAFE,” said the EU head. “Poland will be the largest beneficiary of the joint procurement instrument,” she added.
The second crucial decision of the Union, besides taken during the Polish Presidency, is to agree to loosen the criteria of the budget deficit that apply to all countries of the Community. The European Commission has agreed that defence and arms spending should be treated as a simplification in the calculation of associate States' eligible debts.
"Today is an crucial day for Poland and a joint visit to the border! The EC has stated that our country will be the largest beneficiary of European funds under the SAFE programme. Shields of the East, protection of the state border, Polish projects and products specified as Krab, Borsuk or Piorun can become a flywheel of the Polish economy," commented on the X Cezary Tomczyk portal, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence.
