Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz with Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, spoke at a press conference at the Sejm on Friday about priority investments in Poland's security.

We find ourselves at a historic moment when everyone must contribute to building and defending peace and, even more, defending Poland's independence. This means that we have to reorient our investment policy so that it fulfils the most important objective: to show the enemy the strength that defends peace in the European Union and in Poland, defends our independence,

said Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz at a press conference.

Poland has agreed with the European Commission that a new Security and Defence Fund of around PLN 30 billion will be created under the NRP. Among other things, the Fund's resources will be used for dual-use, defence-related investments and arms industry subsidies.

A revolutionary change is taking place in the European Union. It is a decision about a large, joint loan, or the kind of investment that will feed into EU defence,

said the Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy.

The Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, emphasised that the Security and Defence Fund will support very specific projects for Poland's security.

There will be extra money for the defence industry, and for civil defence to build shelters. This will be additional money for research development, i.e. research in the area of military technology. Finally, there will be dual-use technologies, i.e. those that have wartime and peacetime applications,

mentioned Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia.

The transfer of PLN 30 billion in European funds to the Security and Defence Fund is an absolute priority,

stressed Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

According to the Minister of National Defence, it will be possible to use money from the Fund to build a drone army and apply artificial intelligence to the military. 

PLN 30 billion from the NRP for the Security and Defence Fund

Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz announced that a review of the NRP had begun. The decision to reallocate NRP funds to defence-related investments was taken in cooperation with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

"This is an absolutely groundbreaking initiative. I hope that others will follow us,

stressed the Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy.

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz pointed out that the Fund's resources will be used for civil infrastructure, as well as for research, support for state-owned companies involved in the production of armaments, or Polish private companies that contribute to security and defence in Poland.

The head of the MDFRP announced that the Security and Defence Fund will be presented to the Council of Ministers for decision within two weeks. The transfer of funds from the NRP to the Fund will be part of the ongoing revision of the NRP. The Minister estimates that talks with the European Commission on the matter will conclude in early April. She announced that it is likely for the Fund to be anchored by law so that it is clear where the money is going.

Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz reported that the review of the NRP and the European Funds with a view to changing the investment vector in Poland is ongoing and there are further opportunities in this regard.