Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański has said the programme could help accelerate the modernisation of Poland's armed forces, providing the country with billions in new funding.
“Anyone who votes against the SAFE programme is either a fool or betraying Poland’s national interests,” Domański said during a parliamentary debate earlier this month.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in mid-February hailed the SAFE programme as “one of the most important in the history of the modernisation of the Polish armed forces.”
He said the military needed a radical acceleration in upgrades, which SAFE would enable, and told lawmakers that the financing process would be transparent and include anti-corruption safeguards.
European Union member states last week approved Poland’s national plan for spending defence funds under the SAFE programme, clearing the way for Warsaw to become the initiative’s largest beneficiary.
Poland has applied for financing for 139 defence projects worth a total of EUR 43.7 billion, according to the European Commission.
The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme provides up to EUR 150 billion in low-interest loans for military procurement, largely aimed at equipment produced in Europe.
SAFE was established last year to help EU countries strengthen their defence capabilities amid growing threats from Russia and uncertainty over the future level of US engagement in Europe.
The programme also aims to reduce reliance on US-made weapons and boost Europe’s defence industries.
To that end, purchases from non-EU countries are limited, and at least 65 percent of the value of components must be produced in countries participating in SAFE.
Ukraine is also eligible to take part in the loan programme, a move intended to strengthen its defence industry and support its fight against Russia.
The programme is also open to countries such as Norway and Switzerland, as well as those that sign defence partnership agreements with the EU, including Britain and Canada.
Tusk has said that the SAFE initiative is crucial for Poland's military security and will also boost to its economy, with billions earmarked for defence infrastructure and equipment.
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Source: IAR, PAP