A minimum of 4% of GDP – this level of defence spending, according to president Andrzej Duda, should be included in the Constitution. The Sejm discussed a task proposed by the Head of the Armed Forces. But this was not the only subject concerning defence – Members besides conducted the first reading of the bill on veterans of activities outside the state.
Under the current legislation, the minimum level of defence expenditure is defined in Home defence Act. It assumes that all year the government should allocate not little than 3% of the Gross home Product. In March of this year, president Andrzej Duda submitted a draft of changes to the case in the Sejm. It provides for the inclusion in the Constitution of a provision on defence expenditure and sets a minimum threshold of 4% of GDP per year. “It is simply a warrant that specified expenses will be implemented and strengthened for our safety,” the president told journalists.
Members discussed the proposal of the Head of the Armed Forces at the Sejm gathering today. – We treat this bill as a circumstantial political testament of Andrzej Duda. We all agree that money must be spent on defence, due to the fact that in the foreseeable future Poland must have a large and strong army. And it would be good for this money to be guaranteed at the level of the Constitutional Act," said Bartosz Kownack of the Law and Justice, declaring his support for the President's initiative.
Members: We are already spending more
Paweł Bliźniak of the civilian Coalition stressed in turn that Poland is already spending more on defence than expected in the task 4% of GDP. – In 2024 the planned expenditure for this intent amounted to 4.2% of GDP. Currently, the budget for 2025 has a level of 4.7% of GDP. However, next year, according to the announcement, expenditure is expected to scope the 5% of GDP ceiling," he said. He besides recalled the government's efforts to get additional sources of funding. – Through active policy in the European Union, we have been able to guarantee billions of PLN for the Tarcza East projectby part-communisation. In addition, Poland besides gained access to PLN 30 billion from the National Reconstruction Plan for defence projects. In this situation, the question arises whether we should not update the rules on defence expenditure at the statutory level – said Bliźniak.
The presidential amendments to the Constitution were not supported by Members of the Left Parliamentary Club. Ms Joanna Wicha pointed out that the Left supported, among others, the increase in spending and the improvement of modern weapons technologies and the strengthening of the Polish defence industry, but is opposed to the entry into the Constitution of the level of spending on a single branch of public policy. "This budget bill prepared by the government for each year, adapted to the current economic, political and social conditions, is the right place to find the level of expenditure on individual ministries," argued the MP. She besides stressed that the opposition of the Left to the task was not an objection to the usage of 4% of GDP for defence purposes. “There is no real political dispute today,” Wicha said. Witold Tumanovich of the Confederate spoke in a akin tone. "We support, of course, the spending of money on arms, but the draft amendments to the Constitution, although surely inspired by concern for the safety of the state, seem simply unnecessary," said the MP. Adam Luboński from Poland 2025 – The 3rd Way declared his willingness to transfer a presidential task to work in the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence.
While no of the Members questioned the request for a strong and modern army during the discussion, any of the debaters doubted the application of the provision in practice. Members asked, among others, about real changes in defence finance policy and possible constraints in the fiscal flexibility of the state in various situations. Hanna Majszczyk, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Finance, pointed out that present defence spending is much higher than the minimum level included in the Homeland Defence Act. This shows that a strong political commitment does not always require a constitutional guarantee. I call for this debate to take into account the possible effects of a permanent constitutional tightening of the budget, which may limit the flexibility of the state in future crises or changes in geopolitical conditions. This thought can, in practice, completely deprive Parliament of the real impact on the yearly budget design," said Hanna Majszczyk.
Margaret Paprock, head of the President's Chancellery, in consequence to the Members' questions, assured that the proposed regulation was constitutionally acceptable. "The proposed provision indicates that any kind of expenditure is crucial adequate to be guaranteed at the level of the Constitution," she said. besides the gene defends the rez. Dariusz Łukowski, head of the National safety Bureau, stressed that the inclusion of defence expenditure in the Constitution is to warrant their rationality. – It is besides an component of communication strategy for our enemy, for Russia, that it is simply a permanent commitment and that we take it seriously – said the general. He besides added that the inclusion of a minimum threshold of 4% of GDP in the Constitution is besides intended to service long-term plans for the state, the military, the defence manufacture and abroad partners.
For veterans
The next item of the Sejm gathering was Amendment of the Veterans Act for activities outside the state. The task was founded by Cezary Tomczyk, State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence. He recalled that present veterans, but besides service officers under the Home Minister, who have veteran position to get compensation for health damage, which they have experienced on missions, must "judge those who have directed them on this mission." “These processes frequently take years and months. From now on compensation will be paid automatically, it will be PLN 6 000 for each percent of permanent harm to health. In practice, this means even PLN 600,000 for a veteran in the case of injury and injury, which eliminated him from further service to his homeland," said the deputy chief of the MON.
According to the project, procedures for claiming compensation are besides to be simpler and faster. It is adequate that a uniform injured on the mission will apply for compensation to the appropriate office (MON, MSWIA or interior safety Agency). The Office shall examine the papers and decide to grant the benefit. erstwhile the veteran receives information on this case, he will have 30 days to declare whether or not he accepts the money. Those who consider that the compensation amount is besides low will be able to appeal to the administrative court. This benefit will not, however, be granted to those to whom a final judgement has already been given granting compensation or to those in whom a settlement has already been concluded.
Deputy Minister Tomczyk stressed that veterans participated in the preparation of this amendment and are very looking forward to its adoption. It is yet justice for the heroes of our country. ... Veterans are not entitled to a court, but to state aid in all way possible. (...) We are ending a sad chapter in the past of the Polish Army, erstwhile veterans had to argue with their own country about compensations that they simply owed," said Cezary Tomczyk. According to MON estimates, compensation payments will full around PLN 100 million.
All Members voted to mention the draft amendment of the Veterans Act to further work in the Committee on National Defence.
