Poland - Factors to Watch September 18

WARSAW, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The following are significant news stories, press reports and events on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

DRONE ATTACK ON POLAND

The object that hit a house in an eastern Polish village earlier this month was likely a missile fired by a Polish aircraft that was intended to shoot down Russian drones in the NATO-member's airspace, the Minister Responsible for Poland's Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak told TVN24 on Wednesday.

Poland will pay for repairs to the house of a couple that was likely hit by a Polish missile fired at a Russian drone during an incursion of Poland's airspace on the night of Sept 9-10, Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk told Super Express daily.

TAX

Poland's Finance Ministry plans to raise an extra 7 billion zlotys ($1.94 billion) in tax revenue by tightening rules concerning corporate and personal income tax, Puls Biznesu daily reported.

CYBERSECURITY

Poland is set to spend nearly 4 billion złotys this year on a cyber shield. However, the money won't be enough unless the country changes the regulations and raise public awareness, Rzeczpospolita daily reported.

THREAT OF WAR

According to a poll published by the Pollster Research Institute for Super Express, 70% of surveyed Poles declared they would not leave Poland in the event of Russian aggression; 30% expressed the opposite view.

SUBMARINES

While on Tuesday Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland would purchase submarines by the end of this year, and on Wednesday the Council of Ministers discussed the acquisition of naval vessels, there is no chance of a final agreement being signed in 2025, Rzeczpospolita reported.The daily added that the selection of a supplier is likely.

AIRBUS

Airbus plans to double its presence in Poland by 2030, increasing staff from 850 to 1,500. Current purchases worth $500 million could grow by 40% to $700 million, driven by cooperation with Polish flag carrier LOT and military programs, CEO of Airbus Poland told Rzeczpospolita.

MERCOSUR

Polish Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily that Warsaw's hopes of building a coalition to stop the the EU's trade accord with South America's Mercosur bloc could be slipping away. According to the newspaper, uncertainty over France's stance increases doubts as to whether the deal can be blocked.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****

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