President Karol Nawrocki announced in his Thursday speech that he would not sign the bill implementing the EU's SAFE defense loan program. According to the government's announcement, a veto will not prevent the use of these funds.
The vetoed act assumed the creation of a Financial Security Enhancement Instrument managed by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, through which the government would be able to use money from SAFE – the EU instrument for low-interest loans to quickly increase the defense of EU countries.
– I have decided not to sign the act that allows Poland to take out a SAFE loan. I will never sign a bill that attacks our sovereignty, independence, economic and military security, said Nawrocki.
– At this point, I warn that any attempts to increase our country's foreign debt in an illegal manner, through the back door, will sooner or later be met with responsibility, both political and legal – added the president.
President: SAFE loans can be compared to Swiss franc loans, which led to major crises
As Nawrocki stated, justifying his decision, the cost of interest on SAFE loans may amount to up to PLN 180 billion; “Poles will therefore have to pay back as much as the value of the loan granted, and Western banks and financial institutions will profit from this,” he said.
The president compared SAFE loans to Swiss franc loans: – Everything was supposed to be safe, and then the installments increased so much that it led to huge financial crises – he said. – Politicians who now want a loan from SAFE must remember – this loan will burden our children and grandchildren for many years. Today's 18-year-old, who is just entering adult life, will repay the debt incurred on his behalf throughout his professional career, said Nawrocki.
As he said, investments in defense are necessary, but “they must be conducted wisely, responsibly and in a way that does not limit the sovereignty of the state.” – So I presented a real alternative to the SAFE eurocredit – it's Polish SAFE 0 percent, i.e. the concept of the Polish Defense Investment Fund – he recalled. He added that a bill on this matter was already in the Sejm and stated that postponing the debate on it “is harmful to the Polish army and Polish security.
– Recently, the NBP has generated over PLN 185 billion for Poland; among others thanks to increased gold reserves and good investment decisions; this is huge capital – capital that can work for Polish security. Thanks to this, we do not have to take out uncertain foreign loans for generations, said Nawrocki.
The draft bill on “SAFE 0%”: let's replace gold with cannons. We score the president's idea for financing armaments
Only a week after the first announcements, the public received the draft presidential bill on financing the expansion and modernization of the army. It follows that this goal is to be financed from the profits of the National Bank of Poland. Basically, the idea is that money for the army is to be created from changing the principles of valuation of NBP metal reserves.
The president emphasized that “in a world full of tension and uncertainty, every decision regarding state security must be made with the long-term interest of the Republic of Poland in mind.” As he noted, “with this perspective in mind, we, as a community, decided to join NATO, the 27th anniversary of which we celebrate today.
The president noted that “there was a lot of emotion” around the bill regarding the European SAFE mechanism. – However, the responsibility for the state is to look at the facts beyond current politics – he said. – The issue of entering the European SAFE loan is not a matter of one party, one government, or one term of office, it is a matter of the future of the Polish state – said the president.
He added that the SAFE program raised many questions and doubts from the beginning, and he himself proposed, among others, special amendments to this act.
– I found it necessary to adopt a broad cross-party dialogue, but unfortunately most of the proposed changes were rejected; those in power chose confrontation, not talks, he said.
According to the president, “it was decided to use this case to escalate social polarization and build divisions between Poles.” – This is extremely harmful and it must be said clearly: it is unwise – emphasized Nawrocki.
Prime Minister after Nawrocki's veto: the president lost the chance to behave like a patriot
A moment after Karol Nawrocki vetoed the EU SAFE, the Prime Minister commented on this decision on the X website. “The President lost the chance to behave like a patriot. Shame! Tomorrow at 9 am the Polish government will respond at an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers,” wrote the Prime Minister.
The president lost his chance to act like a patriot. Shame! Tomorrow at 9 a.m. the Polish government will respond at an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) March 12, 2026
The head of the Ministry of National Defense: the president's veto regarding. SAFE is not against the government, it is against Poland's security
President Karol Nawrocki's veto to the SAFE Act is not against the government, it is against Poland's security, said the Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz, on Thursday. We will implement plan B because this is what the Polish raison d'état requires, he emphasized.
“President Karol Nawrocki had a unique opportunity to significantly support the modernization of the Polish Army. Funds from the SAFE program guarantee earlier completion of very important stages of the transformation of our army and faster building of the strongest army in Europe. The president did not take advantage of this opportunity. This veto is not against the government, it is against Poland's security,” emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
“We will implement plan B because this is what the Polish raison d'état requires. Especially when new wars and new threats appear in the world. We cannot remain passive and count on imaginary profits and creative accounting that will not improve the strength of our army. We have no time for waiting and for empty promises,” announced the Minister of Defense.
Government spokesman: the veto on the EU SAFE is an act aimed at Poland's security
President Karol Nawrocki's veto of the bill implementing the EU SAFE program is “an act aimed at Poland's security,” said government spokesman Adam Szłapka on Thursday. He emphasized that the act only facilitated the implementation of the program and provided financing, among others. for the Police and Border Guard.
Referring to the president's veto, Szłapka said that the president showed himself as “a person completely dependent on PiS.” – This project was developed by Poland, by the Polish Presidency (of the EU Council) – emphasized the government spokesman.
He added that the government would work on an “immediately appropriate resolution” and would continue to implement the EU SAFE program, because “the Polish arms industry cannot make losses in this respect.” He explained that the act facilitated and improved the implementation of the program.
According to government representatives, the presidential veto will not prevent Poland from using SAFE funds, although it will make it more difficult, for example, to finance services such as the Border Guard, Police or SOP.
Poland would be the largest beneficiary of the EU's SAFE program – the Polish government could benefit from approximately EUR 43.7 billion (almost PLN 200 billion) in the form of loans with favorable interest rates and spend them on defense investments. According to the government's declaration, 89 percent SAFE funds would go to Polish arms companies.
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