“German boot”: scandal in Poland over huge EU program

Because the entire EU wants to better equip the armies of its member states, it has launched the billion-dollar “Security Action for Europe” program (SAFE) launched. Up to a total of 150 billion euros in long-term loans will be made available. Poland should have received the largest share of this, almost 44 billion euros.

Only Edition from Brussels: The money may not be used for weapons purchases from the USA or other non-European countries.

The government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk therefore wanted to spend four fifths of the money on contracts with Polish companies. For example, a new drone defense system was planned, a Polish-Norwegian joint project.

But the liberal Tusk had not expected the President’s cross shot. On Thursday, Poland’s conservative president vetoed a SAFE loan. And he also threatened the head of government with legal consequences if Tusk stuck to the EU loan despite the veto.

“A trap”

Reason for the president’s no: Nawrocki said he would not sign a law that “endangers our sovereignty, independence and our economic and military security.” Jaroslaw Kaczynski, chairman of the PiS party that sent Nawrocki into the presidential election last year, went even further: “SAFE is a trap. It puts Poland under the German boot.”

Prime Minister Donald Tusk reacted indignantly: “The president has missed an opportunity to behave like a patriot,” wrote Tusk on The ultra-conservative head of state opposes many of the government’s projects right from the start.

In order to advance Poland’s rearmament without an EU loan, Nawrocki recently presented an alternative plan together with the equally conservative head of the National Bank. Accordingly, the armaments program should be financed interest-free from the National Bank’s foreign exchange and gold reserves.

Profits from the National Bank should also be used – but they don’t exist. The National Bank had recently only made losses. The next catch: Prime Minister Tusk’s government would have to agree to this loan. And he has already made it clear: this approval will definitely not be given.

Conclusion: There is money for Poland’s rearmament – but because of the mutual political blockade it remains unused.