Polish President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed a €40 billion EU defense loan plan, arguing that the “Security Action For Europe” (SAFE) scheme undermines national sovereignty and would saddle Poland with generational debt. Prime Minister Donald Tusk denounced the move as a “disgrace” and an act of “national treason,” calling an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss a “Plan B” to secure the funds despite the veto. While the government views the loans as critical for air defense and anti-drone technology amid the war in neighboring Ukraine, Nawrocki has proposed an alternative funding model using central bank reserves. The government dismiss the president’s counter-proposal as unrealistic and politically motivated, noting that the central bank has recently operated at a loss.
Date: March 12, 2026. Source: lemonde.fr/en