The draft regulations governing foreign workers have become a political flashpoint after comments by Donald Tusk; a decision was announced to pause discussions on the measure to avoid fueling confrontations, according to European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk speaking on Polish Radio’s third program.
Civic Platform leader Donald Tusk shared a recording on his Twitter account addressing the migration policy issue.
We are witnessing shocking images of riots in France, and at the same time Deputy Prime Minister and PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński is reportedly preparing a document that would enable even more citizens from countries such as Saudi Arabia, India, Iran, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and Pakistan to come to Poland, according to Tusk.
Tusk stated.
Last year, Kaczyński reportedly accepted more than 130,000 new arrivals from these regions, a figure described as fifty times higher than in 2015. The visas are described as easy to obtain and are issued through external contractors due to the volume of orders, according to the leader of the PO.
Government spokesperson Piotr Müller announced that the regulation designed to facilitate attracting workers to Poland would likely not be pursued at this time.
Politicizing the labor issue
Szynkowski vel Sęk argued that the regulation under preparation is strictly technical in nature. In countries with a relatively high volume of applications and processing bottlenecks, he said, solutions would be introduced to allow external agencies to collect applications and forward them to the central authority in Warsaw, where consular staff would, of course, handle them. He emphasized that safety criteria must be met.
The aim was to deliver a measurable improvement. Since the issue has been leveraged by Donald Tusk as a political instrument, there is reportedly a decision to suspend work on the regulation to prevent further political clashes, the minister noted.
When asked about the figure of 400,000 cited in the draft’s justification, Szynkowski vel Sęk explained that these are estimates. Applications are not written by the government; they are prepared by the interested parties or employers, he stressed. He added that many applications are rejected and there is additional verification for visa applications in addition to work permits. A small percentage of people receive visas from those who initially applied for a work permit, highlighting strict verification, he pointed out.
Systematic complaints
Asked about Polish objections to EU rules within the Fit for 55 package aimed at cutting emissions in the EU by at least 55 percent by 2030, the minister said that complaints would be brought to the Court of Justice of the EU in the coming weeks. Poland would challenge provisions that were introduced without proper procedures or factual basis, arguing that some acts run counter to EU law.
Systematic filings are being prepared as part of a broader legal framework, to be submitted to the Court of Justice of the EU in the near term, Szynkowski vel Sęk added.
Accession negotiations with Ukraine?
When Szynkowski vel Sęk was asked about Ursula von der Leyen’s statement that the EU should address extending its structures to Ukraine and Moldova as soon as possible, he recalled that accession talks should begin by year’s end. The truth of these commitments would be tested by whether such a step actually happens, he said. We will see by year-end, as a decision on opening negotiations with Ukraine and, ideally, Moldova must be taken by then, he assessed. Poland is pressing the hardest for a decision, he noted. If it happens, it would be a success for Poland and the candidate countries, he added, expressing hope that it can be achieved by year-end.
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Mon/PAP
Source: wPolityce