Jo Harper
11 March 2026•Update: 11 March 2026
WARSAW
Brussels is increasingly concerned about political tensions in Poland that could jeopardize the implementation of a key European defense funding program, according to reports from Polish media, citing sources within the European Commission.
Officials in the European Commission are said to be monitoring a dispute between the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Karol Nawrocki about legislation linked to the EU’s SAFE defense initiative.
Polish broadcaster RMF FM reported that Commission officials fear the standoff could delay or complicate Poland’s participation in the program, which is intended to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities and support the protection of the EU’s eastern flank.
Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier struck a cautious tone, saying that Poland remains “the largest beneficiary of the SAFE program,” describing Warsaw’s plan for the funds as “very solid.”
Behind the scenes, however, Commission officials are said to be far more worried. According to RMF FM’s sources in Brussels, uncertainty around the Polish legislative process means there is currently “no certainty” about the future of Poland’s SAFE program.
“Instead of certainty, we have a mess,” one Commission source reportedly said.
The dispute centers on the possibility that Nawrocki could veto legislation linked to the program, creating a confrontation with the government. Such a move, sources in Brussels said, could have consequences beyond Poland.
According to officials quoted by RMF FM, Poland plays a central role in European defense planning due to its position on NATO and the EU’s eastern flank. “Without Poland, there is no Eastern Shield,” said one source. “Without Poland defending the eastern flank, there is no security in Europe.”
The SAFE program is designed not only to strengthen national defense capacities but also to support cooperation among European defense industries, and to assist Ukraine’s war effort.
For that reason, some officials reportedly view the potential veto as more than a domestic political dispute. “A presidential veto would be a political blow to all of Europe,” one source told the station.
Tusk has indicated that his government may pursue a “plan B” to implement the program even if the president blocks the legislation. Details of that option have not yet been made public.
European Commission officials remain cautious about commenting on the possible workaround. According to RMF FM, some in Brussels are concerned that delays or legal uncertainty could lead to missed deadlines and potentially risk access to EU funding.
The Commission has so far refrained from publicly criticizing Polish authorities, but officials said they are closely following the situation as the dispute unfolds.
