“We will find this mechanism”
The Tuesday session of the committee on administration and home affairs was devoted primarily to the veto of president Karol Nawrocki towards the law on the EU SAFE programme. The gathering was attended by Minister Marcin Kierwiński, who presented further plans of the government. The head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs pointed out that alternatively of starting shopping, the ministry must now look for a way around the decision of the President, stressing that the veto "injures Polish security" and deprives the Polish services of resources which were not yet available.
Kiewiński pointed out that the President's decision would hold but not block the usage of money from the EU mechanism. Although the bill was vetoed, the government plans to apply for a debt on the basis of a resolution, arguing that the first bill only allowed the usage of funds under circumstantial mechanisms in Poland. Kierzinski assured that the government would find a way to participate in the SAFE programme, although he admitted that it would not be easy.
I calm everyone here: we will find this mechanism – declared.
Poland's participation is not at risk
After discussions with representatives of the European Commission in Brussels, besides the government typical for the SAFE programme Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka assured that Poland's participation in the initiative was not jeopardised, despite the veto of president Karol Nawrocki. The government seeks to finalise the formalities as shortly as possible without the request to pass a bill. Sobkowiak-Czarnecka pointed out that Poland remained part of the programme and that the country would receive EUR 43.7 billion.
She stressed that the veto of the president did not mention to Poland's participation in EU arms loans itself, but to the way funds were spent. According to her, the first tranche of money can scope Poland in April.
Last Friday, the Polish Monitor published a resolution of the Council of Ministers concerning the Polish Armed Forces Programme, which shows that the debt from the SAFE programme will be drawn by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowej for the Armed Forces Support Fund.
Nawrocki's veto has complicated the case
The President's veto against the SAFE Act blocked the establishment of a fresh fund to spend money, which is why the government plans to usage the existing Armed Forces Support Fund. However, it will not cover the modernisation of the Ministry of abroad Affairs and infrastructure projects in defence worth PLN 16 billion. Government work on bypassing veto includes, among others, the partial usage of the safety and Defence Fund, although it is not structurally suitable for this. The anticipation of carrying out purchases with SAFE without VAT remains a priority.
The SAFE instrument is an EU programme to support associate States' defence, offering a full of €150 billion, mainly in the form of low-interest loans for the acquisition of military equipment produced in Europe. Poland is to be its largest beneficiary in the EU. The usage of funds is opposed to the Law and Justice and the Confederacy, while the politicians of the ruling coalition stress that the programme will importantly strengthen Polish defence in the face of threats from Russia.
