President Karol Nawrocki, together with the President of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), Adam Glapiński, presented on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, a Polish alternative to the EU’s SAFE programme. The new concept is called „Polski SAFE 0 proc.” („Polish SAFE 0%”) and envisages financing the modernisation of the Armed Forces with 185 billion zloty over the next five years – entirely without taking EU loans and without any interest.
The funds would come mainly from three domestic sources: profits earned by the NBP over the last 30 months, gold reserves, and effective investments and assets managed by the central bank.
An Alternative to EU Loans
The EU’s SAFE (Security Action for Europe) is an instrument worth 150 billion euro, of which Poland is allocated almost 44 billion euro (equivalent to approx. 185 billion zloty) in the form of a low-interest loan. The Sejm has already passed the act implementing this mechanism, but the law is awaiting the president’s signature, which he has for weeks signalled serious doubts about.
Karol Nawrocki, during a joint press conference with Adam Glapiński, stressed the advantage of the Polish solution:
„After today’s meeting with Professor Glapiński, and after analyses by specialists, I have no doubt that the Polish SAFE 0% is better for the Polish armed forces than the European SAFE with those burdens we are discussing in Polish public opinion.”
The president announced that he would still send today an official invitation to a working meeting to Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
What Next for Defence Financing?
The „Polish SAFE 0%” is meant to ensure full sovereignty – zero interest, no currency risk and greater flexibility in choosing equipment suppliers (not only European ones). The Tusk government has so far strongly promoted the EU programme, emphasising the benefits for the Polish defence industry and quick access to funds.
The president’s proposal opens a new stage of the dispute. Supporters praise the lack of new debt and the use of domestic resources. Critics point to potential risks linked to NBP reserves and gold – they fear an impact on the stability of the zloty and on monetary policy.
Governor Glapiński assured of the central bank’s readiness to cooperate. Technical details and an implementation schedule are to be specified in the coming days.
The president’s decision on the act on the EU SAFE may come within the next few weeks and will be of key importance for how the Polish army is financed in the years 2026–2030.
Source: Prezydent.pl
