A government official stated that new funding will be sought through the ammunition program and that lessons will be learned from earlier administrations. The deputy prime minister and head of the defense ministry emphasized that once the bid phase closes, there is little left to adjust in the current process.
On Friday, the European Commission announced a 500 million euro allocation to arms manufacturers to boost artillery ammunition production. The goal is to supply more missiles to Ukraine and replenish stockpiles across EU nations.
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– “Respect was expected, but the outcome was unsatisfactory.” The December 13 coalition remains unhappy with the ministry’s handling and asks what truly happened with ASAP applications.
– The director of the National Security Bureau warned that subsidizing tank and artillery ammunition production by the EC has sparked controversy.
– Evaluating the situation after the statements by EU allies, critics note a sizable portion of funds went to German and other European firms, with limited direct support for Polish companies.
Former Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak argued that only about 2.1 million euros would reach Poland from the 500 million euro pool, while German firms are estimated to receive around 85 million euros and Hungarian firms about 27 million euros.
The December 13 Coalition and the Application Process
When questioned about Poland applying for EC financing to produce tank and artillery ammunition for Ukraine, the deputy prime minister indicated that no action could be taken in the current moment.
Once the intake for the ammunition program concludes, there is little room for further変更
– he remarked. Yet he recalled that future subsidies for such production remain a possibility within EU programs.
The approach will continue to pursue EU funds as they become available. The aim is to learn from past missteps and move forward, according to Kosiniak-Kamysz in Polsat News.
We will adapt and persist, the minister asserted.
He argued that predecessors should reflect on decision-making and messaging within the arms sector and state-owned companies, which did not yield the desired results.
Earlier, Jacek Siewiera, head of the National Security Agency, criticized the EC’s decision on the subsidy as a scandal on Platform X. He highlighted that among the three applicants Dezamet, Nitrochem, and Mesko, Polish firms received a minuscule share, while German capital dominated the funding pool of 500 million euros.
According to Siewiera, it is essential to protest results when necessary and focus on principles rather than formal defects blamed on applicants.
If the described solidarity of Europe is supposed to be a model, some see contracts being awarded across oceans as a sign of broader trends. This is a core issue, according to the official.
He added that explanations about formal defects are insufficient because a bidder can always be asked to rectify issues.
Polish officials stress that settling the funding in a second round would be unsatisfactory for the government. The concern is that contracts could be awarded to external entities, leaving the Polish defense reality increasingly dependent.
The defense ministry spokesperson noted that it should be a point of pride if more Polish firms received support, rather than a source of embarrassment for critics.
Quotations could be submitted during the October 2023 to December 2023 window, and some participants had already registered in March 2023. Thus the program’s timeline stretched across the governance period in question.
The ministry’s spokesman criticized political maneuvering and emphasized that only one Polish company qualified among the ASAP program’s applicants.
In a post on a social platform, officials suggested that the procurement process occurred during the earlier stages of the current government and election period.
The EC’s decision is intended to raise European defense industry capacity to about 2 million missiles per year by late 2025, up from just over 1 million currently. Funds are directed to established players such as Rheinmetall, Nammo, Chemring Nobel, Hellenic Defense Systems, Eurenco, and others. The plan also aims to spur additional private investment through co-financing, targeting a total investment around 1.4 billion euros.
The situation around the December 13 Coalition has sparked reflection on governance and strategy, with some pointing to leadership decisions as a defining factor in outcomes.
Further commentary in the media notes the evolving stance of key officials as the dialogue continues.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce