The Polish armed forces have bought 20 comfortable Land-Rover Discovery vehicles which it claims will be necessary when Poland takes over the EU presidency.

The car is a mid-size SUV equipped with seating for up to seven people. Its interior and exterior are luxurious, including heated screens and mirrors, leather seats and real wood console and door panels. It has a Turbo Diesel engine with six cylinders and can reach 180 km per hour. In Poland land Rover Discovery costs about 56,500 euro and the Polish Army bought twenty such cars for about 5 million zloty (1.3 million euro).

“We bought high-standard Land Rovers to provide transport for foreign delegates who will come to Poland in relation to the EU presidency,” Lieutenant Colonel Andrzej Lis told the Rzeczpospolita daily.

However, the Polish Army was not designated to provide transport for foreign guests during Poland’s presidency which starts on 1 July. This is the Government Security Bureau (BOR)’s task and it has already bought 27 Audi for 7.5 million zloty (1.9 million euro) to cater for the needs of foreign delegates.

“It’s a scandal,” says General Waldemar Skrzypczak, former Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Ground Forces. “There is no excuse. It’s just a waste of money.” (mg)