Radosław Fogiel, a PiS MP and head of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, criticized a partner who he said does not keep to agreements and refuses to follow the law when asked about the funds tied to the KPO program.
What about KPO funds?
Speaking on Radio Wrocław, Fogiel suggested that the issue hinges on challenging the European Commission to stop acting illegally and politically withholding money owed to Poland. He stated that this should happen as soon as possible, but that the country faces a partner on the other side who does not respect agreements or the law.
According to Fogiel, Poland has met all requirements related to the Reconstruction Fund regulation and should receive the funds. He also noted that the matter has a political dimension, claiming there are no substantial legal grounds for withholding money, and cited Donald Tusk as saying that a future win in elections would unblock KPO within a day.
Playing the opposition at the expense of Poland
Fogiel argued that attempting to persuade Polish citizens that the issues are straightforward or require changes, while the leader of the opposition claims that one day is enough to resolve them, serves to disadvantage Poland and keep KPO blocked to support opposition interests. He asserted that the opposition works with European bureaucracy to deprive Poles of these funds.
He stressed that the funds are not for government use alone; they are for municipalities and institutions across the country, and that the European Commission has a claim to them that is not justified.
The government implements the programs included in the KPO
Fogiel emphasized that the government is not waiting passively but is actively implementing the programs tied to the KPO with national funding. He said the work continues alongside ongoing investments.
He highlighted substantial investments flowing to local governments in recent years. Some municipalities previously had a modest annual investment budget, which has expanded dramatically thanks to the road fund and the Strategic Investment Fund. As a result, many localities can complete projects in a single year that would once have taken decades, illustrating the scale of change at the local level.
These remarks reflect the administration’s view that KPO-related programs are being carried out, with a focus on delivering benefits to communities across the country.