Speaking in Warsaw on Friday, both officials stressed the importance of the EU's SAFE programme – a loan scheme under which Poland stands to receive up to EUR 43.7 billion, the largest allocation of any member state.
The commissioner, who is on what he called a "missile tour" of Europe, said Ukraine's most pressing need is anti-missile systems – and that Poland could play a central role in producing them.
He cited NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's recent assessment that Europe needs to increase its missile defence production by 400 percent.
Speaking about SAFE, Kubilius said that without these funds, "new factories won't be built, new jobs won't be created", expressing surprise at the domestic debate in Poland over whether to adopt the programme.
Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed to ongoing conflict in the Middle East as a reason to accelerate European self-sufficiency.
He warned that global arms manufacturers, including American ones, would be focused on replenishing equipment used by the US and Gulf states, potentially delaying deliveries Poland has already contracted.
The minister renewed his call for President Karol Nawrocki to sign the legislation implementing SAFE before the 20 March deadline, rejecting a rival proposal from the head of state and the National Bank of Poland governor for a domestic "SAFE 0%" alternative.
As part of the visit, both officials also travelled to the MESKO arms factory in Skarżysko-Kamienna, south-central Poland, to assess its production capacity.
(ał)
Source: PAP