President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill introducing the EU SAFE programme on Thursday. On Sunday before the Presidential Palace there was a protest by the Committee for the Defence of Democracy entitled "We want to be SAFE". According to media coverage, up to a fewer 1000 people could participate in the demonstration.
Many participants in the talks with the media stressed their opposition to the decision of president Karol Nawrocki, indicating that they believe it could endanger the safety of the country. Protesters brought banners and posters, which featured strong slogans criticising the President, specified as “Nawrock traitor of Poland”.
However, it turned out that at that time Karol Nawrocki was not at the Presidential Palace – he went to Silesia to watch a match between Górnik Zabrze and Rakow Częstochowa from the stands.
Veto of the SAFE Act
The SAFE mechanics is simply a immense debt in abroad currency. The cost can be up to PLN 180 billion said Karol Nawrocki during the Thursday message.
Karol Nawrocki estimated that the SAFE programme would benefit mainly from western banks and institutions, comparing it to franc loans. He pointed out that loans from this mechanics would be charged to future generations of Poles. The president besides stressed that in the EU SAFE, decisions on the usage of funds do not belong exclusively to the Polish authorities, pointing to the existing conditionality mechanism, and stressed that “security provided” is not a real security.
Safe loan?
SAFE (Security Action for Europe) was created to support EU countries in strengthening their defence capabilities. It was created in 2025 in consequence to a increasing threat from Russia and uncertainty about the continued engagement of the United States in Europe. The programme offers a full of €150 billion in the form of low-interest loans for the acquisition of military equipment, in large part produced in Europe.
Loans are expected to have a favourable interest rate and, according to the EU Commissioner for the budget, they will not require repayment for the first 10 years.
