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Poland shifts EU Covid money to boost defence innovation

27.05.2025 16:00
Poland has reached a deal with the EU to use billions in its post-Covid pandemic recovery money for defence and security purposes.
Audio
EU Commission
EU CommissionShutterstock/Michailidis

Meanwhile, the country has ordered thousands of battle drones to create Europe’s largest strike-UAV fleet.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is set to approve Poland’s request to shift over 6 billion euro in EU post-Covid funding from green projects to defense.

“Poland is the first in Europe to reallocate over 6 billion euro from the National Recovery Plan to a security and defense fund”, said Development Funds Deputy Minister Jan Krzysztof Szyszko.

“This includes investment in civil protection infrastructure, such as shelters, as well as dual-use infrastructure like roads, railways, landing strips, and airports which will serve a purpose in peacetime but can also be used to transport the military, if necessary”, he added.

The initiative also includes support for Polish industrial and defense manufacturing sectors.

The money, however, cannot be directly spent on weapons purchases as this is not allowed by the EU’s own rules.

Click on the player icon above for an audio report by Michał Owczarek.