80% of the money from SAFE will be spent in Poland – provided by the government. “Never on specified a scale have funds been allocated in the Polish arms industry,” says Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, the government typical for SAFE. The government besides assured that the legislature would have a tabled amendment separating SAFE from the defence department budget.
At its gathering on Friday, the Sejm adopted a law on the Financial Instrument for Enhancing SAFE Security. This is simply a debt programme created by the European Commission last year, from which arms purchases and investments in defence will be financed. Consequently, a conference was held in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, attended by Cezary Tomczyk, State Secretary at the Ministry of National Defence, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, Deputy Minister for European Union Affairs at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and Government lawyer for SAFE, and Adam Szpiecka, Government spokesman.
– The programme is simply a gigantic success of the Polish Presidency," said the Trap. "This is the first specified a large programme to make Europe focused on strengthening European security. It is precisely what Poland planned and focuses on strengthening the possible of the Polish defence industry," added the government spokesperson.
The aim of the conference was to present the principles on which SAFE was to operate and to respond to allegations from the opposition. We keep our word! As we declared, we will fight for as much of this EU programme as possible. We already know that nearly 44 billion EUR will be sent to Poland – said Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka. As she reported, the first tranches from SAFE are to be paid to Poland most likely already in March. EU funds will be utilized to finance the modernisation needs of the Polish Army, but besides to strengthen the Border and Police defender or to improve cyberspace protection.
The Polish buying list, which the European Commission has already accepted, contains more than 130 items. It was developed by specialists from the General Staff of the Polish Army and is the consequence of an analysis of military needs. 80% of these purchases are to be carried out by the Polish armory. “Never on specified a scale have the funds been allocated in the Polish arms industry,” argued the Deputy Minister.
The opposition alleged that SAFE would benefit mainly the German industry. Government representatives argued that this was impossible, as a large part of the funds obtained are to be spent in the home industry. It is besides not actual that the implementation of the SAFE program will prevent Poland from purchasing arms in the United States and South Korea, i.e. in 2 of the largest non-European Polish military co-operators. “All the rage we see present on the part of the Law and Justice, it follows that lobbyists from many countries have spoken, who believe that this money should be spent in their countries,” said Deputy Minister Tomczyk. "We think clearly and clearly that they should be released primarily in Poland," he added. Cezary Tomczyk reported that among the contracts to be co-financed with SAFE, there are, among others, the program “San” or the improvement of the Polish Army's anti-drone capabilities.
As assuranced by SAFE, the government will besides encourage European partners to finance purchases of equipment and weapons produced in Poland from the pool allocated to them. This is crucial that only in the first year of the call for proposals could it be possible to finance purchases made by 1 state. From next year, only global projects will be allowed by the European Commission.
Deputy Minister Sobkowiak-Czarnecka besides referred to allegations of the negative impact of the SAFE programme on the finances of the Ministry of Defence. As she submitted, the Act adopted present creates a financial instrument in the Polish legal environment, from which contracts concluded under SAFE will be paid. – The Act ensures the smoothness of this instrument, but besides defends MON's expenditure and budget. We have the assurance of the Ministry of Finance that the payment of SAFE will not violate the budget," the Deputy Minister said. – A comprehensive amendment will be tabled in the Senate, which will safeguard the budgetary interest of the MON, so that all elements concerning SAFE are financed outside the budgetary part which concerns the national defence minister," added Cezary Tomczyk.
The Act besides establishes audit and control mechanisms to guarantee that they are implemented “in the best possible way”. The Government besides ensures that SAFE will not replace backing from the Armed Forces Support Fund. They're expected to be parallel mechanisms.