As he works to settle disagreements between Warsaw and the EU that have resulted in the money being blocked, opposition leader Donald Tusk stated on Wednesday while visiting Brussels that Poland must utilize all means to recover frozen European Union funds.
After several pro-EU parties won a majority in an election held on October 15, Tusk is expected to take over as prime minister of Poland. The EU had placed billions of euros on hold because of worries about judicial independence under the previous nationalist administration.
During a live news conference, he said, “I am here as the leader of the opposition, not as the prime minister, but time is passing.” “I had to take this initiative before final decisions were made, because all methods, including non-standard ones, had to be used to save the money that Poland deserves.”
Poland’s ability to receive grants and loans totaling 35.4 billion euros ($37.41 billion) from the EU recovery fund is at risk.
Concerns expressed by the EU over Polish judicial changes are also preventing Warsaw from obtaining 76.5 billion euros in “cohesion funds,” intended to improve living conditions in Europe’s poorest states.
Poles are waiting to see who the departing Law and Justice (PiS) administration’s supporter, President Andrzej Duda, would appoint to lead the formation of a cabinet.
“EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC”
Despite winning the most votes in the election, PiS is not expected to find a coalition partner with enough seats to establish a government. Duda has, however, previously stated that the first try will go to the largest single party.
Tusk met with Duda on Tuesday along with a delegation from his Civic Coalition (KO) party. Tusk told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday, “I have reasons to be cautiously hopeful after seeing President Duda. “Everything indicates that cooperation should be as harmonious as possible.”
“He assured us that he would respect the election results, that if it was confirmed that the opposition had a majority, he would not hesitate and would give it the mission of forming a government.”
The heads of the three coalitions planning to form the next government have all said they would not collaborate with PiS and have urged Duda to assign Tusk the task of building a cabinet as soon as possible.
