“How would you convince them that this program is important and necessary?” Dariusz Joński asked a Dutch Member of the European Parliament during a discussion in the European Parliament, referring to the SAFE program. The response was brief: “Of course it is financed through joint debt, which is not particularly sensible, because interest on previous loans still has to be repaid and that burden falls on future generations.” The recording was later commented on by Waldemar Buda. “He didn’t expect such an answer,” the former minister wrote.
A recording of part of a conversation about the SAFE program—an EU instrument for financing defense investments—has appeared online. The discussion involved Polish MEP Dariusz Joński and Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (from the Christian-right Reformed Political Party).
During the exchange, Joński asked his interlocutor how to persuade those who are skeptical about the program.
“How would you convince those politicians who say we should not take this money, that we should not use these funds? How would you convince them that this program is nevertheless important and necessary?” the Polish MEP asked.
Bert-Jan Ruissen gave a short reply:
“The SAFE program is, of course, a strengthening of our own defense potential. That is needed. Of course it is financed through joint debt, which is not particularly sensible, because interest on previous loans still has to be repaid and that burden falls on future generations,” he said.
The recording was later commented on on social media by former Minister of Development and Technology Waldemar Buda.
“You’re done for (…) he didn’t expect such an answer,” the politician wrote.
What makes the situation even more amusing is that Joński posted the Dutch MEP’s response on his own social media—but in a shortened version. He included only the sentences: “The SAFE program is, of course, a strengthening of our own defense potential. That is needed,” omitting the rest of the statement.