Dworczyk on the favor of Germany's defense industry in the EU. How was it?

Voting in the European Parliament resolution on defense strengthening The European Union caused a political discussion about both countries that would play a main military role on the continent, as well as the future decision -making of states in defense issues. He commented on these topics on March 17, 2025 in “Piasecki's conversation” on TVN24 PiS MEP Michał Dworczyk. He criticized the postulate from the resolution calling to change the method of voting in the EU regarding defense: from unanimity to the qualified majority. He justified his opinion by the example of NATO. “There is always unanimity in NATO, because all the countries of this alliance assume that matters related to the security and defense of individual countries are so important that only this form of voting is possible” – said Dworczyk.

The interviewer Konrad Piasecki noticed, however: “In NATO it is a unanimity in which the United States so much dominate that they are de facto US policy to NATO policy, you know it perfectly. However, in the European Union there is no such simple gear – which makes the European Union helpless when he has such politicians on its basis (Viktor Orban or Robert Fico, who have the right of veto – ed.) “.

This is what Michał Dworczyk replied: “I must say that I am surprised that the Lord is not smiling, saying that because the situation is very similar in the European Union. But in the European Union, the decisive voice is primarily to Germany, a bit of the French.” And he added:

However, PiS MEP is misleading. We remind you what the process of submitting applications for this support looked like, from which Polish restrictions resulted – that is where the “proportions” that Dworczyk talked about.

In March 2023 – in view of large amounts of ammunitions transferred to Ukraine – foreign ministers and ministers of defense of EU countries agreed that it is necessary to improve the efficiency of artillery ammunition production in EU countries. In response to their appeal in May 2023, the European Commission presented draft regulationwhose main assumption was the allocation of EUR 500 million from the EU budget for arms plants producing ammunition or its components. The act on supporting the production of ammunition (ASAP) – because this is what the regulation was called – it was accepted by the European Parliament and the EU Council in an accelerated mode in July 2023. It obliged the European Commission to immediately issue an executive decision, in which it would specify the criteria for the syntax of the enterprise and the methods of future division of funds.

Ultimately the EC published this decision October 18, 2023, and the deadline for submitting applications for co -financing was set for December 13, 2023. So the applications were submitted during the rule of the United Right, because it was until December 13, 2023 that the Polish defense minister was Mariusz Błaszczak, and the minister of state -owned assets supervising, among others Marzena Małek arms companies. It was only that day that the government of Donald Tusk was sworn in – with Władysław Kosiniak -Kamysz (Minister of Defense) and Borys Budka (Minister of Asset).

Read more in Zasta24: Ammunition scandal for money. Calendar of events

After the Competition, the EC evaluated the applications of over three months, and finally on March 15, 2024 informed about the decision. Ultimately, EUR 513 million was allocated for this purpose. This amount was decided to co -finance 31 projects submitted by 25 arms companies from 15 European countries – including one of Poland. The Polish company Dzieamet, which is part of the Polish Armaments Group, received EUR 2.14 million to increase the production of scales.

The amounts given by Michał Dworczyk are correct, but is this proof that “in the European Union, this decisive voice primarily has Germany”? Official information shows that a small amount granted to a Polish company results not from Germany's dominance, but the limited possibilities of our domestic enterprises and the quality (poor) of submitted applications.

Six days after the deadline for submitting applications – December 19, 2023 – Polish Armaments Group informed in a messagethat they were submitted by three companies: Dezamet, Mesko and Nitro-Chem SA. It was added that it is about the capacity of the production of ammunition with a caliber 155 mm and 122 mm, but it was not stated on what amounts all three entities were requested.

When the European Commission announced the results of the recruitment, PGZ In another statement She clarified that the applications amounted to EUR 11 million. So, even if the EC granted full funding to Polish companies, it would constitute about seven percent of the entire budget allocated for this purpose. PGZ representatives explained that “the amount of the requested subsidy resulted from the need to ensure co -financing investments from own funds.” Depending on the type of ammunition produced or components, EU funding could cover up to 45 percent. costs.

The representative of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out to the small amount for which Polish applications were submitted. “Polish companies led by PiS submitted to the EC for the production of ammunition only for EUR 11 million. It is difficult to get EUR 500 million in this case” – wrote on March 17, 2024 on the website X Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk. “The opposition has a grudge that the Germans received 170 million euros for ammunition, and Poland's conclusions were accepted until 13/12/23. 3 Our companies requested 15 times less than DE finally got. commented Also on the website X Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

Additional information about Polish conclusions was presented on March 19, 2024 by the head of the National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera. In “Piasecki's conversation” on TVN24 He admitted that “technical errors have been made and we have this issue explained.” “Meaning, By submitting an application for EUR 11 million, submitting it – let's say gently – in part -shaped and suboptimally prepared documentation, it is difficult to expect success” – he said.

Finally, it is worth adding that – as Cezary Tomczyk informed – no Polish company has submitted an application in the area of ​​explosive production, “where every applying company received a grant”.

Michał Dworczyk thundered that while the Polish company got just over 2 million euros funding, “only one German Rheinmetall received 130 million euros”. It should be emphasized, however, that some of these funds German enterprise got in international consortiawhich created with companies from other countries.

For example, the highest funding in the entire program with a height of 47 million euros Rheinmetall received for a project implemented jointly with the Romanian company Romarm. The next 46 million euros was given to the consortia Rheinmetall Expal Munitions and Rheinmetall Hungary Munitions, which belong to the German group, but they have headquarters in Spain and Hungary, and therefore their designs were qualified as these two countries. In general, international initiatives had a better chance of receiving high grants: a consortium of companies from Italy, France, Norway, Finland and Latvia received EUR 41 million.

That is why dr Michał Piekarski from the Studies on the Security Studies of the University of Wrocław In an interview with Polon.pl In March 2024, he noted: “Polish enterprises that submitted their projects are undoubtedly small compared to Western companies. In addition, we observed intensive staff and organizational turmoil, which automatically translated into a partial lack of trust regarding the stability of the company.”

“If we have a large group that has significant production capacity and declares that he wants to implement the project, the probability of being successful by it is greater than when a relatively small Polish company comes” – said Dr. Piekarski. And he added:

The expert summed up: “Remember that the ASAP project has a very short delivery time, by 2025. Unfortunately, in this case, he focuses on strong units with great achievements and experience. Such a low participation in the assigned grants is, unfortunately, also a measure of the weakness of the Polish industry.”

Thus, contrary to what Michał Dworczyk claims, low funding for the production of ammunition for the Polish company and they do not prove much higher for German, “that in the European Union the decisive voice has, above all, Germans, a bit of the French”. Because simply Polish companies themselves requested a small amount, and there were mistakes in their conclusions.