EU Leaders will propose to the European Council and the Commission “within a few days” the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) defense umbrella, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Monday.
This initiative, compared to IsraelTusk's Iron Dome aims to protect Europe from missile and drone threats and is estimated to cost the bloc as much as £3.4 billion.
The European Sky Shield Initiative was the subject of discussion between Tusk and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during her visit to Warsaw last month.
Tusk emphasized the need for such a defense system, especially in light of recent events. “Creating an iron dome against missiles and drones is necessary. (…)
“The recent attack on Israel showed how essential such systems are. There is no reason for Europe not to have a missile defense shield.”
He added that Europe is in a similar danger zone Israel and must take preventive measures.
Tusk expressed his satisfaction with Frederiksen's positive response to Poland's entry into the European project aimed at building a protective dome over the continent. He noted that work on the project in Poland has already begun.
The ESSI project, originally set up by Germany in 2022, started with 15 participating countries and now includes 21 countries, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP). However, the initiative was criticized within Poland. President Andrzej Duda described ESSI as a “German business project” and emphasized Poland's preference for cooperation with the US and Britain, citing the deployment of Patriot systems in Poland.
Despite this criticism, Tusk remained unperturbed by the German-led project. Jacek Siewiera, head of the President's National Security Office, suggested that if Poland's existing air defense projects were effectively integrated with ESSI, President Duda would support it.
In addition to ESSI, Poland is investing significantly in the security of its eastern border. Tusk announced on Saturday that Poland is investing around £2 billion in the Shield-East project to ensure security and deterrence against Russia and its ally Belarus. The plan includes the construction of military fortifications and environmental modifications to make the border impenetrable.
“We have made the decision to invest in our security and first of all in a secure eastern border, about 10 billion zloty (2 billion pounds),” Tusk said. He stressed the importance of a secure border for Poland, which lies on the eastern flank of NATO and NATO European Union.
In his speech to Polish troops in Krakow on the anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino, Tusk emphasized Poland's commitment to border security. The previous right-wing government had built a £315 million wall on the Belarusian border to control the influx of migrants, but the current government sees a need for further reinforcement.
Poland remains a strong ally Ukraine in his defense against Russia's invasion, a reflection of his proactive stance towards regional security and cooperation within Europe.