EU defence commissioner honoured for role in European security, Polish-Lithuanian ties

Andrius Kubilius, the European Union's Lithuanian defence commissioner, has been honoured in Poland for his contribution to strengthening European security and deepening ties between the two neighbouring EU and NATO members.

Andrius Kubilius

PAP/Leszek Szymański

Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz presented Kubilius with the Poland-Lithuania Cooperation and Dialogue Forum Award in Warsaw on Monday.

Silne relacje Polski i Litwy to jeden z fundamentów bezpieczeństwa naszego regionu 🇵🇱🇱🇹 @KubiliusA - Komisarz Unii Europejskiej ds. obrony i przestrzeni kosmicznej od lat działa na rzecz naszej współpracy i konsekwentnie zabiega o silniejszą obronność Europy współtworząc program #PolskaSAFE. Dziś w Natolinie miałem zaszczyt wręczyć mu Nagrodę Forum Współpracy i Dialogu Polska-Litwa. Dziękuję za przyjaźń z Polską, zaangażowanie i wspólną troskę o bezpieczeństwo Europy. Gratuluję!

— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) October 12, 2026

In his tribute, Kosiniak-Kamysz praised Kubilius' contribution to Polish-Lithuanian relations and to raising the profile of defence and innovation within the European Union.

Today at #WSF2026 I presented progress of 🇪🇺 Defence programs. #SAFE #EDIP #AGILE #EDPCIs are in motion. With €billions&super fast implementation we are boosting European pillar of NATO, supporting 🇺🇦 & ramping up our defence/space industry. Strong industry - strong Europe! https://t.co/cu2tb3TEGo

— Andrius Kubilius (@KubiliusA) October 12, 2026

One important element of those efforts is the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) financing instrument, which is designed to support defence investment and joint procurement amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Congrats to @coenatolin on the opening of the European Security and Strategy faculty! Because it all starts with the power of ideas. In 🇪🇺 defence we need not only a financial or industrial “big bang”, but also an intellectual "big bang”. My keynote ⬇️ https://t.co/ByMNrhN3Yp https://t.co/6ftBXDUSlN

— Andrius Kubilius (@KubiliusA) October 12, 2026

Poland has been allocated EUR 43.7 billion under the programme, making it its largest beneficiary.

(mo/gs)

Click on the audio player above for a report by Michał Owczarek