As of now, not a single contract financed through the SAFE mechanism has been signed, the Armament Agency declares in response to questions from Niezalezna.pl. Meanwhile, the government claims that “contracts that may be financed from SAFE are already being implemented.”
The government’s plenipotentiary for SAFE, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, even before the presidential veto, spoke on Wednesday about a plan B regarding SAFE and a government resolution.
She also stated that contracts connected with SAFE are already being implemented, despite the lack of the president’s signature. “Yes, contracts that may be financed from SAFE are already being implemented,” the minister assured. She claimed this is based on a regulation of the Council of the European Union from May 2025. It allows for refinancing expenditures already incurred, understood as contracts signed between the end of May 2025 and the end of May 2026.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also assured that all domestic arms companies are waiting for funds from the SAFE program and are ready to begin production.
“These factories are already working for this program. People are designing equipment that will be financed from SAFE. This money is on the table. By May we can plan spending of almost PLN 200 billion. There is a war going on around us. The situation requires the utmost seriousness and responsibility. There is no room for political games,” Donald Tusk said.
Nothing Has Been Signed
TV Republika asked the Armament Agency whether, if contracts had been negotiated and signed with a promise of financing from SAFE, on what legal basis this was done.
It was also noted that the relevant implementing law has not been signed by the president.
“As of now, not a single contract financed using funds from the SAFE mechanism has been signed. It should be remembered that the SAFE mechanism constitutes the possibility of an additional source of financing alongside the previously mentioned part 29 of the state budget (Ministry of National Defence expenditures – ed.) and the Armed Forces Support Fund. The agreements that are concluded do not contain information about sources of financing. For the contractor, the guarantor is the State Treasury regardless of whether the agreement is financed from budgetary funds or from another source,” the agency replied.
Niezalezna.pl also asked for information on how many contracts have been concluded with a completion deadline by 2030. According to the program, equipment purchased using SAFE funds should be delivered by the end of that period.
“As of today, the number of contracts concluded with a completion deadline by 2030 amounts to 379, which does not mean that they are connected with financing from the SAFE mechanism,” the Armament Agency claims.
Contracts are therefore being signed without indicating sources of financing. When will it become clear which of them have been included under the SAFE loan? Were members of parliament or the president informed about them? And how does the list of signed contracts relate to the project list covered by secrecy?
Questions Without Answers
The Armament Agency negotiates agreements in a way that ensures the implementation of the Central Material Plans. These plans define the timing, type, and quantity of equipment as well as indicate the financial resources allocated in subsequent years for their implementation. The plans include information on sources of financing in accordance with the current legal framework (part 29 of the state budget and the Armed Forces Support Fund). How were the Central Material Plans modified for SAFE?
Further questions were submitted on this matter.
Niezalezna.pl also asked whether, in connection with the introduction of the SAFE loan mechanism, corrections were made to the annual financial plan of the Armed Forces Support Fund. Only an evasive response from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego was received.
“Information regarding the details of settlements, financial plans or possible adjustments on the Fund’s side constitutes data covered by banking secrecy and internal regulations. The annual financial plan of the Armed Forces Support Fund is prepared and updated in accordance with applicable regulations and based on the demand submitted by the Minister of National Defence. BGK does not independently determine the structure of expenditures or their purpose – decisions in this regard belong to the Ministry of National Defence,” BGK claims.
TV Republika and Niezalezna.pl are awaiting responses from the Ministry of National Defence.