EU's Largest Defense Financing: Polish Prime Minister Signs NT$1.6 Trillion Agreement
Poland has signed the EU's largest defense financing plan, "Security Action for Europe" (SAFE), securing approximately 43.7 billion Euros (about NT$1.6125 trillion) in EU loans. As the first of 19 applicant countries to sign and receive the most funding, Poland has demonstrated its leading role in EU defense.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 17:21
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(Central News Agency reporter Cheng Jing-yu, Warsaw, 9th) The Polish government signed the European Union's largest-ever defense financing program, "Security Action for Europe," on May 8th, and will receive approximately 43.7 billion Euros (about NT$1.6125 trillion) in EU loans. Poland became the first among 19 applicant countries to sign the plan and receive the most funding, highlighting its leading position in EU defense.
According to an announcement from the Polish Prime Minister's Office, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially signed the EU's "Security Action for Europe" (SAFE) defense loan program yesterday afternoon, securing a total of 43.7 billion Euros in funding.
The Prime Minister's Office announced that after signing the "SAFE" contract, an advance payment of 6.5 billion Euros (about NT$240 billion) will be transferred to Poland within a few days. This funding will promote industrial orders, strengthen the Polish economy, and create job opportunities.
The Prime Minister's Office stated that Poland became the first country among the 19 applicants for the "SAFE" program to be approved and receive the highest amount, thanks to its status as a "proposer" and its strategic location. The plan was actively promoted by the Tusk government within the EU, and Poland was also the first to submit a list of 139 specific projects.
The Prime Minister's Office also pointed out that Poland's defense spending accounts for 4.8% of its GDP, the highest among NATO member states. Coupled with Poland's frontline position on the eastern defense line, it meets the EU's "high risk, high investment" priority funding criteria, thus receiving nearly 30% of the total "SAFE" funds, far exceeding other member states.
Tusk stated that the "Security Action for Europe" loans will be used for the modernization of the Polish army and border security, including funding for the "Eastern Shield" (Tarcza Wschód) defense project, drone interception systems, and cybersecurity.
Tusk emphasized that 89% of the "SAFE" funds will be directly injected into Polish domestic defense companies, which is expected to benefit over 12,000 domestic suppliers.
According to mainstream Polish news outlet Onet, "SAFE" is the largest defense financing plan in EU history, aimed at responding to geopolitical changes such as the Russia-Ukraine war and compensating for the uncertainty of US support.
The total loan amount for the "SAFE" plan is 150 billion Euros (about NT$5.5365 trillion), which provides very low-interest loans for up to 45 years, allowing member states to quickly raise defense funds without immediately burdening their fiscal budgets.
The plan has a distinct "Europe First" character, with its core goal being to establish European defense autonomy, and stipulates that 65% of procurement must come from EU companies, while non-EU countries such as the US and South Korea are restricted to secondary suppliers.
The Prime Minister's Office also countered Polish President Karol Nawrocki's veto of the "SAFE Loan Implementation Act" in mid-March, emphasizing that the Tusk government has found a solution to provide "SAFE" funds to Polish service departments, including border guards, the National Fire Service, and the police.
According to an announcement from the Polish Presidential Office, Nawrocki pointed out that the "SAFE" plan's 45-year repayment period is "financial blackmail" for future generations, and the exclusion of US military industries could harm Poland's strategic alliance with Washington. The Presidential Office also questioned whether the plan would give the EU power to intervene in Poland's defense policy. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150509
According to an announcement from the Polish Prime Minister's Office, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially signed the EU's "Security Action for Europe" (SAFE) defense loan program yesterday afternoon, securing a total of 43.7 billion Euros in funding.
The Prime Minister's Office announced that after signing the "SAFE" contract, an advance payment of 6.5 billion Euros (about NT$240 billion) will be transferred to Poland within a few days. This funding will promote industrial orders, strengthen the Polish economy, and create job opportunities.
The Prime Minister's Office stated that Poland became the first country among the 19 applicants for the "SAFE" program to be approved and receive the highest amount, thanks to its status as a "proposer" and its strategic location. The plan was actively promoted by the Tusk government within the EU, and Poland was also the first to submit a list of 139 specific projects.
The Prime Minister's Office also pointed out that Poland's defense spending accounts for 4.8% of its GDP, the highest among NATO member states. Coupled with Poland's frontline position on the eastern defense line, it meets the EU's "high risk, high investment" priority funding criteria, thus receiving nearly 30% of the total "SAFE" funds, far exceeding other member states.
Tusk stated that the "Security Action for Europe" loans will be used for the modernization of the Polish army and border security, including funding for the "Eastern Shield" (Tarcza Wschód) defense project, drone interception systems, and cybersecurity.
Tusk emphasized that 89% of the "SAFE" funds will be directly injected into Polish domestic defense companies, which is expected to benefit over 12,000 domestic suppliers.
According to mainstream Polish news outlet Onet, "SAFE" is the largest defense financing plan in EU history, aimed at responding to geopolitical changes such as the Russia-Ukraine war and compensating for the uncertainty of US support.
The total loan amount for the "SAFE" plan is 150 billion Euros (about NT$5.5365 trillion), which provides very low-interest loans for up to 45 years, allowing member states to quickly raise defense funds without immediately burdening their fiscal budgets.
The plan has a distinct "Europe First" character, with its core goal being to establish European defense autonomy, and stipulates that 65% of procurement must come from EU companies, while non-EU countries such as the US and South Korea are restricted to secondary suppliers.
The Prime Minister's Office also countered Polish President Karol Nawrocki's veto of the "SAFE Loan Implementation Act" in mid-March, emphasizing that the Tusk government has found a solution to provide "SAFE" funds to Polish service departments, including border guards, the National Fire Service, and the police.
According to an announcement from the Polish Presidential Office, Nawrocki pointed out that the "SAFE" plan's 45-year repayment period is "financial blackmail" for future generations, and the exclusion of US military industries could harm Poland's strategic alliance with Washington. The Presidential Office also questioned whether the plan would give the EU power to intervene in Poland's defense policy. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150509