Security is the most crucial subject for our Presidency in the European Union. So we are pleased to see that Europe has woken up – so Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz commented on the unanimous acceptance of associate State ambassadors for the EU SAFE programme, which assumes granting loans for defence. The programme budget is EUR 150 billion.
SAFE to increase Union defence manufacture production capacity and independent EU technology. At the same time, through circumstantial procurement, it will service to increase the possible of the Community's army and to build their greater interoperability. All of this in the face of expanding threats on the continent, caused by the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation. The SAFE budget is set at EUR 150 billion. The appropriations will be made available in the form of preferential loans to associate States and European arms companies. The interest rate on EU loans will be 3.3%.
The decision of the Ambassadors was besides commented on by the Head of the European Council Antonio Costa. "The SAFE debt facility agreement reached present by the Polish EU Presidency is an crucial step towards a stronger Europe. It meets the commitments made by EU leaders in March, helping associate States to invest together in European defence and strengthening our common security," wrote Costa on Platform X.
Above all, Europe, but...
Formally, loans will be raised by the European Commission and guaranteed by the EU budget. The money will be available for projects notified by at least 2 countries. The Regulation provides for a number of facilitations for this kind of joint procurement. SAFE will besides let financing of projects implemented by only 1 associate State. Individual countries will be able to apply for backing for the first year of the programme. Applications may concern projects and contracts already in implementation. The last 2 assumptions were peculiarly crucial to Poland – their inclusion was a success, which was mentioned by the Minister of Defence Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The Polish negotiators besides managed to force the evidence that 35% of loans could be utilized to acquisition products from 3rd countries specified as the USA and Korea (where we have acquired and intend to get quite a few weapons). The remaining 65% will be reserved for EU producers as well as Ukraine, large Britain, Norway and Switzerland. Participation in the programme of Ukraine is intended to further strengthen the possible of its arms manufacture and aid it in the war on Russia. It is besides intended to implement Ukrainian experience in the usage and evolution of weapon systems on the real battlefield.
One more formality
What part of the SAFE budget can be allocated to Poland and home arms companies? This is simply a debt mechanics that many players will have access to. Attractively-interested, but the largest EU economies, especially Germany, can find even better offers on the marketplace to lend their defence projects. This makes SAFE primarily an offer for EU middlemen, and Poland can cut an crucial part of the funds out of this “tort”. According to Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, even 120–130 billion PLN.
– That would be a immense pool – the Deputy Prime Minister assessed. At the same time, he indicated that it could dedicated to production, among others. Baobab overhead miner systems, anti-aircraft rocket sets Piorun, cannon-haubic Krabs or Borsuk combat infantry trucks.
The May 21 decision of the ambassadors does not close the case. Next week, the regulation will go to a gathering of European ministers. erstwhile agreed and published in the authoritative diary of the EU, the paper will enter into force. The program can start to run at the beginning of June this year. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the final approval of SAFE is simply a formality.
– present we can say that Poland has been a large success – he said at a press conference.
