However, the government insists that even with a Nawrocki veto, it would still be able to access the EU cash.
But Nawrocki stressed that the SAFE money comes with strings attached. His idea, he says would mean “a concrete and secure alternative for SAFE that will not involve any interest … without credit, without changing Poland’s situation in the EU, and with the flexibility our armed forces need in selecting equipment.”
Glapiński hinted that the central bank would step in with its annual profit for the purpose. Any central bank profits are channeled to state coffers, although that hasn’t happened in recent years. The NBP has also amassed 550 tons of gold, with plans to boost that to 700 tons.
However, Polish law limits the ability of the central bank to finance budget expenditures.
“We cannot use any part of the reserves in the sense that a portion would be transferred, because that would be against the law,” Glapiński said.
Nawrocki said he would present further details, which would include new legislation for the parliament to work on, to Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz as soon as Wednesday.
Kosiniak-Kamysz pushed back, saying on X: “The SAFE program provides the fastest and most concrete funding for modernizing the Polish army, which is why the military, the defense industry, and all those committed to strengthening our armed forces are calling for the president to sign the [SAFE] law.”
“If additional financing instruments for the army appear, the Polish Armed Forces will only benefit — not as an alternative to SAFE, but as extra resources enhancing security,” Kosiniak-Kamysz added.