Poland, the largest country on NATO's eastern flank, is one of the western alliance's biggest spenders in relative terms, as it ramps up efforts to combat the threat from Russia.

The funding, from the EU's Security Action For Europe (SAFE) scheme, is earmarked for air and missile defences, anti-drone technology and other equipment. The police, border guards and road and rail projects are also in line for a funding boost.

The conservative-nationalist opposition railed at the scheme, saying Brussels could use a planned mechanism to monitor spending to exert undue pressure on Warsaw -- a claim denied by the government.

President Karol Nawrocki, allied with the conservative-nationalist Law and Justice (PiS), has also criticised the plan and has 21 days to decide whether to sign the bill into law or to block it.

His veto would not stop the government from accessing the SAFE funds, but officials would need to review how the money would be spent and find other sources of funding for projects not directly related to defence.