Polish President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed legislation that would have enabled Poland to access nearly €44 billion in EU defence loans, escalating a domestic institutional clash with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU government. In a televised address on March 12, 2026, Nawrocki announced he would not sign the SAFE programme bill, arguing "I will never sign a law that undermines our sovereignty, our independence, as well as our economic and military security."
The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme is a €150 billion EU initiative aimed at strengthening Europe's defence industry. Poland was set to receive around €43.7 billion in loans under the scheme, making it the largest potential beneficiary. The funding is earmarked for air and missile defences, anti-drone technology and other equipment.
Nawrocki argued the mechanism would burden Poland with "a massive foreign loan taken out for 45 years in a foreign currency," warning the arrangement could leave Poland repaying far more than it borrows. The president proposed an alternative funding approach called "SAFE 0 percent" that would rely on domestic resources rather than EU borrowing.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk immediately denounced the veto, saying "the president lost his chance to act like a patriot". Tusk insisted the veto will not prevent the government from accessing the defence funds, though "it will be more difficult, sometimes slower, and it will take much more effort". The government's "Plan B" involves using existing defence funding mechanisms through the Armed Forces Support Fund.
Public opinion polls showed 58.4% of Poles wanted the president to sign the legislation, with support from both the defence industry and military leadership, including Chief of General Staff Gen. Wieslaw Kukula. A European Commission spokesman confirmed Friday that the EU remains determined to continue implementing plans with Poland "without delay".
