Speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy in Warsaw, Hołownia urged deeper EU-wide cooperation to deter Russian aggression, including serious talks on confiscating Russian assets to help fund Ukraine’s war effort.
Hołownia warned that viewing defense spending as a cost rather than an investment will hamper Europe’s security goals. Citing data showing 78% of Europe’s defense spending goes outside the continent—60% of it to the U.S.—he insisted Europeans must develop domestic arms industries.
“It’s time for Europe to stop being an eternal customer,” Hołownia said, arguing that the EU should become a global “shop” rather than a buyer.
Call for confiscation of Russian assets
Emphasizing the Ukraine conflict, Hołownia said the U.S. administration under Donald Trump sees it as a “proxy war” among other global concerns. While praising Western support for Ukraine, he contended the costs should be borne by Russia through seized Russian assets rather than European taxpayers.
“The bandit should pay from his own property, not the interest on it,” he said, advocating for the use of Russian reserves to back Ukraine’s reconstruction. However, the EU currently only uses interest from frozen Russian funds; outright confiscation remains off the table, facing legal and financial concerns.
Noting Poland now ranks 15th worldwide in military expenditures, Hołownia proposed a “50-10-50” plan: 50% of defense outlays spent domestically, propelling Poland into the top 10 military spenders, and boosting Polish Armaments Group into the world’s top 50 defense firms (it now ranks 62nd).
He underlined the need for bold leadership in Europe, calling it “a scarce commodity” in the face of Russian aggression.
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Source: PAP