SAFE Programme: New Funds for Poland’s Security

On 12 February 2026, together with Anna Oleksiewicz and Jordan Zafirow, I had the pleasure of participating in the Polish Defence Infrastructure Congress and the Railway Security Forum. It was a day full of substantive discussions and inspiring debates, but above all questions about what comes next and what can realistically change in the infrastructure sector.

The slogan that resonated in almost every discussion: SAFE. The EU instrument strengthening security and defence has become a symbol of hope for accelerating investments and increasing financing. Especially since on 13 February 2026 the Sejm adopted an act enabling Poland to benefit from the SAFE programme. This is another step towards unlocking funds for projects crucial to the security of the state.

• For contractors – potentially a larger order portfolio.
• For public investors – new sources of financing.

In the context of discussions on financing, one more issue resonated particularly strongly: contractors’ appeal to simplify administrative procedures, especially environmental ones, which today can block investments for many months.In the defence sector, certain solutions are already in place. Of key importance here is the Defence Special Act of 25 July 2025 (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1080), introducing the decision on the implementation of a strategic investment for the purposes of state defence (DRSI).

The regulation provides, inter alia, for:

• limitation of environmental obligations in specified cases,
• replacement of numerous administrative decisions with opinions issued within short time limits,
• facilitation of site preparation for investments,
• a “tacit consent” mechanism,
• granting DRSI decisions immediate enforceability.

Time will tell how these provisions will be applied in practice and whether the declared simplifications will not turn out to be merely a legislative promise.

One thing is certain: all eyes are now on the defence sector.For contractors – intensive organisational and contractual years ahead.For us, lawyers – a demanding time in which the role of legal advisory and efficient dispute management will be just as important as access to financial resources.