Poland’s president vetoed a law
By Doris Heimann
Warsaw (dpa) — Polish President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a law intended to secure billions of euros for the country from a European defence funding programme.
“Poland’s security must not depend on foreign decisions,” Nawrocki said, explaining his move. “Only a nation capable of taking care of its own security remains truly free.”
Under the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, the bloc is offering €150 billion ($172 billion) in low-interest loans to strengthen the defence capabilities of its member states. Poland was expected to be the largest beneficiary, with nearly €44 billion.
At the end of February, parliament approved legislation to implement the programme with the votes of the centre-left coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk said at the time that more than 80% of the funds would go toward contracts for Polish defence companies, benefiting around 12,000 domestic firms.
But the eurosceptic Nawrocki had voiced doubts about the programme from the start.
Poland’s president vetoed a law
“The president has lost the chance to act like a patriot. Shame!” Tusk wrote on X after the veto, calling an extraordinary government meeting for Friday morning.
Political divide in Warsaw
The dispute highlights deep political divisions in Warsaw since Nawrocki’s election last year. The E.U. and NATO member state has since struggled to speak with one voice on strategic issues.
Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), and Tusk come from opposing political camps.
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński has for weeks criticised the SAFE programme and promoted a narrative portraying it as a step toward tighter E.U. integration under Germany’s dominance. According to Kaczyński, the programme would mainly benefit German defence companies.
“They are proposing a Poland under the German boot, and we reject that German boot,” KaczyĹ„ski had said.
Alternative funding plan
Poland’s president vetoed a law
To reject the E.U. loans while still increasing defence spending, Nawrocki recently presented an alternative plan called “SAFE 0 Percent” together with central bank chief Adam GlapiĹ„ski.
The proposal would finance a similarly sized rearmament programme using the central bank’s foreign currency and gold reserves without charging interest. Details remain unclear, and financial experts have warned of potential risks.
“This project means a strong army without debt for generations to come,” Nawrocki said, urging political camps to support the plan.
However, the proposal would require the approval of Tusk’s government, which has already indicated it will not support it.
The E.U.’s SAFE loan programme, introduced in 2025, aims to give E.U. states more resources for defence procurement in response to a more aggressive Russia. Poland had planned to use the loans to purchase systems to counter drones and missiles, as well as helicopters and boats.
Poland’s neighbour Germany is not using the E.U. loans and instead relying on its own funding.
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