The question about the act implementing the SAFE program was asked during a joint press conference, among others. with the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense, Cezary Tomczyk. Radosław Sikorski assessed that the act that reached the president's desk is intended to create an anti-corruption shield and enable the implementation of projects in various ministries.
Continued below the video:
— The act that we hope the president will sign is not the SAFE adoption act. SAFE, strengthening Polish defense was the priority of the Polish Presidency Polska SAFE will accept – said the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
— We expect the first transfers from Brussels within a few weeks – he added.
Sikorski emphasized that the act is intended to create an anti-corruption shield, but also to enable the implementation of projects in other ministries, including: strengthen the Border Guard, protection of civilians and military mobility.
See also: This is how the president wants to finance armaments. The former president of the National Bank of Poland responds
Will Karol Nawrocki veto SAFE?
President Karol Nawrocki has until March 20 to make a decision on the act implementing the SAFE program. Karol Nawrocki has repeatedly said that his doubts are raised by, among others, issue of conditionality.
The president wants the SAFE 0% program. — proposed by him and the President of the NBP, Adam Glapiński — was an alternative to the EU SAFE. The initiative is to provide up to PLN 185 billion for armaments, and the funds to finance it are to come from the National Bank of Poland. As Business Insider Polska found out, the president of the NBP will present more details on Wednesday.
Radosław Sikorski about SAFE zero
On Saturday, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was asked whether he thought the president's initiative was a precursor to a veto. Sikorski said that a veto would be a “betrayal of the role of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.”
He also assessed that, taking into account what the Presidential Palace has presented so far, it is not an alternative to the SAFE program and can only be a complement to it, which takes into account the reserve list of projects related to the needs of the Polish army.
See also: Sale of gold by the National Bank of Poland. Gronkiewicz-Waltz warns against the consequences
What is the SAFE program?
Under the EU instrument, the Polish government will be able to use approximately EUR 43.7 billion in loans with favorable interest rates and spend them on defense investments. According to the government's declaration, over 80 percent the money is to be spent in the Polish arms industry.
The “shopping list” was prepared – according to the Ministry of National Defense – by the General Staff of the Polish Army and the Armament Agency responsible for purchasing equipment for the army.
