European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass arrived at the Polish-Belarus border on Sunday to discuss defense and safety, among other issues.
The EC chief assured the task and the Polish people of “complete solidarity in Europe as a state of Poland and the forefront,” and emphasized the importance of continuing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“President Putin hasn’t changed, he hasn’t changed. He is a predator,” the European Commission president said, adding, “He can only be checked by strong deterrence.”
Von del Reyen’s trip to Poland comes as part of a four-day tour of European countries adjacent to Russia or its allies, aimed at emphasizing solidarity with border states and supporting the development of the European defence industry.
The pair visited the Polish-Belarus border on a show of support for Poland and other provinces on the eastern side of the EU. The border has sparked a great deal of competition, which has been described as a “hybrid warfare” organized by Belarus since the start of the 2021 immigration crisis.
The biggest beneficiaries of Poland and SAFE as Europe’s biggest defensive spenders
“This is a border we have to protect and we also have to invest European money,” Tass said.
The EC chief turns to the prime minister with the comment that “included 800 billion euro investment in the defense plan during the Polish presidency,” highlighting the EU’s plans to enhance security in Poland and the bloc as a whole.
“This is 150 billion euros for joint purchases, so we are homes, the European Union, stronger and safer,” she said, adding that EU countries that build direct borders with Belarus and Russia will receive additional funds.
Poland is Europe’s biggest defensive spender and will become the largest beneficiary of SAFE, von der Reyen wrote in a statement on the X.
“In line with Poland’s preparations, we proposed a five-fold increase in defence investment and a ten-fold increase in funding for military mobility,” she added.
The task also revealed plans for future military investment in Poland.
“Poland will invest PLN 20 billion in defense next year in the defense industry, the Polish army. Therefore, we take responsibility seriously and hope that all European institutions and countries will take the security of the eastern border equally seriously and take a tough stance against invaders and Russia,” he said.
45th Anniversary Agreement
The meeting between Tusk and Von Der Leyen coincided with the 45th anniversary agreement in August. This is a historic deal between the communist government and strike workers who paved the way for the creation of the Solidarity Labour Union, the East Bloc’s first independent trade union, which played a pivotal role in the collapse of communism in Europe.
“We’re not here to celebrate our anniversary,” Tass said. “I chose this place (…).
“Solidarity was a great dream of independence, a great move to unite Europe and separate it from the evil world from the evil empire of the time. And this border was just as important as the dream of freeing itself from Soviet rule,” he added.
In response to the words of the task regarding the anniversary of key events, von der Reyen emphasized Poland’s commitment to resilience and security and defense cooperation.
“45 years ago, the winds of change through Poland were blown away. It was strong enough to break the concrete concrete of communism. Solidarity was a turning point for Poland, not just for Poland, but for the entire democratic world,” she said.
Von der Leyen’s visit Poland is part of a broader tour of the EU countries adjacent to Russia and Belarus, including Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Bulgaria and Romania.