WARSAW, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday called on President Karol Nawrocki to approve the bill implementing the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, and asked the National Bank of Poland (NBP) to provide precise information about its financial capacity and details of the proposed "SAFE 0%" plan.
In a video posted on social media platform X, Tusk said that Poland, Polish companies, workers of those companies and national security are waiting for funds from the SAFE program. He said the money from the EU program "is on the table," and factories are preparing to produce weapons. He added that the current international political situation requires seriousness and responsibility.
Tusk said he listened with growing surprise to a joint statement on Wednesday by President Nawrocki and NBP Governor Adam Glapinski, during which they presented the "Polish SAFE 0%" as an alternative to the SAFE program.
According to Nawrocki and Glapinski, "SAFE 0%" could serve as an alternative to the SAFE program. The president said the project could provide 185 billion Polish zlotys (about 50 billion U.S. dollars) for Poland's armed forces without loans or interest. Nawrocki said he would invite the government for talks on the proposal and was ready to introduce a legislative initiative if necessary.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the plan proposed by the president and the NBP governor should not be treated as an alternative to the SAFE program but as a supplement. If both programs were implemented, they could provide about 360-400 billion Polish zlotys (97.6-108.6 billion dollars) for the military, he said.
Under the SAFE program, Poland could obtain about 43.7 billion euros (50.7 billion dollars) in loans for defense investment. The Polish parliament has passed the bill implementing the program and it is now awaiting the president's decision. By law, the president has 21 days to decide whether to sign the bill. ■
