0:16 5 March 2026
Poland weighs SAFE alternative
President Karol Nawrocki has proposed a domestic defense financing plan called “SAFE 0%” as an alternative to the EU’s SAFE loan program. The idea was discussed with National Bank of Poland (NBP) governor Adam Glapiński, with the president arguing that a Polish version would give the armed forces greater flexibility and avoid EU conditionality.
Nawrocki said the EU SAFE mechanism could tie Poland to repayments until 2070 and conflicts with the principle that national security should remain the responsibility of individual member states.
Glapiński stressed that the central bank cannot use foreign-exchange reserves directly, as this would violate the law. However, financing could potentially come from NBP profits, around 95 percent of which are transferred annually to the state budget.
The president plans to invite Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to discuss the initiative.
Some analysts warn the proposal could justify a presidential veto of the EU SAFE legislation, though government officials say both programs could operate alongside each other.
Source: bankier.pl
