There is an invitation to Kiev from President Volodymyr Zelensky. No decision has been made yet, but I think Prime Minister Donald Tusk will take advantage of this invitation. I think it will be very difficult this year, said EU Minister Adam Szłapka.
President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Tusk in a telephone conversation on taking over as prime minister and invited him to visit Ukraine. Zelensky announced this on the night of Wednesday to Thursday on his profile in one of the messengers.
Minister Szłapka was asked about Donald Tusk’s conversation with the President of Ukraine.
There is actually an invitation for Kiev, no decision has been made yet, but I think the Prime Minister will take advantage of this invitation
– he told journalists in Brussels.
I think it will be very difficult this year
– added.
The Prime Minister has been in Brussels since Wednesday, where he took part in the European Union-Western Balkans summit, and a two-day meeting of the European Council has been taking place since Thursday, where the leaders of the EU countries will discuss, among other things, aid to Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and budgetary issues.
Szłapka: We will not delay the application for disbursement of funds from the KPO
We will not delay the application for payment of funds from the National Reconstruction Plan, EU Minister Adam Szłapka said in Brussels. He added that Poland is optimistic on this issue.
Adam Szłapka, who accompanied Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the European Council summit, met with European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova in Brussels on Thursday.
I think everyone here is very happy that Poland has returned to the side of European values, it clearly says that values like the rule of law are very important for Poland
– he told reporters after the meeting.
He also emphasized that the deputy head of the European Commission is in constant contact with the Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar.
It is no secret that Minister Bodnar and I have been working very intensively over the past two months to complete all the “milestones” (necessary for the payment of KPO – PAP) as completely as possible.
– he pointed.
We are all very optimistic
– he added, emphasizing that the final decisions and talks would be led by Donald Tusk.
Szłapka also said that Minister Bodnar had prepared a whole package of solutions, but did not want to reveal the details.
Poland is still subject to the art. procedure. 7 (EU Treaty – PAP). We all want to get out of this procedure and that is mainly what we have talked about
– said the minister.
Commenting that the European Commission expects specific changes in the law and specific laws, Szłapka responded that “we are talking about the path to achieving full rule of law in Poland and about changes in all areas.”
Minister Bodnar will prepare appropriate legislative solutions that will actually change the system in Poland
– he added, admitting that Bodnar’s work on this package of solutions is at an advanced stage.
EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that the European Commission will find a way to make 111 billion euros available to Poland from EU funds, including the KPO program and the Cohesion Fund.
When Szłapka was asked about these words, he said that there were good signals from the EC and that there was a good atmosphere.
There are still a number of things that need to be done
– he said.
I am optimistic, but here the final decisions and final discussions will be made by the Prime Minister
– added.
When asked about unblocking the amounts we are currently talking about, Szłapka replied: “We are talking about unblocking the entire KPO and cohesion funds, this is the amount that Commissioner Hahn has given.”
Everything is a process that we have been working on together with Minister Bodnar for more than two months
– he pointed out.
The minister was asked whether Poland would quickly apply for the first payment of the KPO, namely approximately 7 billion euros.
We will not delay in this matter, but Prime Minister Tusk will make the final decisions on this matter
– added.
Noting that the so-called milestones for today will not be achieved, Szłapka reiterated that the Minister of Justice is working to achieve all milestones.
As far as I know he is very progressive in this area
– added.
Minister Bodnar has a number of options in his office to introduce solutions to meet all milestones.
– he emphasized.
When asked whether a quick disbursement of 5 billion euros in the form of an advance was an option, Szłapka replied that we should count on the payment in its entirety, and not in installments. When asked if the entire amount would be paid in December, he replied: “I think so.”
We have three things: we have the KPO, we have the initial advance payment, and the issue of the advance payment is a matter of formalities
– added.
The minister also announced that they had agreed on permanent consultations with Jourova. On Thursday evening, the Polish minister will meet with EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders.
tkwl/PAP/X
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Source: wPolityce