EU Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius (left) and Polish government representatives signing a loan agreement under the SAFE program in Warsaw.Image: keystone
May 8, 2026, 9:47 p.mMay 8, 2026, 9:47 p.m
After a long domestic political dispute, Poland has signed a contract for the payment of an EU arms loan worth billions. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski signed the paper, which provides for the disbursement of almost 44 billion euros to modernize the Polish army.
“This is a turning point in the history of Poland and the EU,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. This will make Poland safer in this difficult and risky time. EU Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius emphasized that Poland is taking a pioneering role in taking responsibility for the defense of its own country, the eastern flank and the whole of Europe. The EU must be ready to defend peace. “We have to produce a lot more defense equipment, we have to deter Russia – and that’s why the EU has to grant secure loans like Safe,” said Kubilius.
Poland is the biggest beneficiary of the EU billion-dollar program
As part of the Safe program, the EU is providing a total of 150 billion euros in cheap loans to expand the defense capabilities of its members. Poland is by far the biggest beneficiary. According to the Ministry of Defense’s plans, this should be used to purchase defensive weapons against drones and missiles as well as helicopters and boats.
The EU and NATO country Poland is one of the most important political and military supporters of Ukraine, which is attacked by Russia. It also sees itself as threatened by Moscow and is massively arming itself. Within the EU, Poland’s center-left government campaigned vigorously for the Safe program to be launched.
Eurosceptic president vetoed law
But then there was a heated domestic dispute over the billion-dollar loan. After parliament passed a law on the use of the funds in March, Eurosceptic President Karol Nawrocki vetoed it. His reasoning was that Poland’s security should not depend on foreign decisions. The contractual condition, according to which the military equipment is to be ordered mainly in Europe, could also annoy the USA.
In the end, the government issued a resolution authorizing the ministers of defense and finance to sign the contracts for the EU Safe program. The EU loans are now being taken out in a detour via the state development bank BGK. (sda/dpa)