The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, stated in Brussels that there is no issue with payments from the Cohesion Fund. He affirmed that the transfers align with the agreed framework, addressing questions about linking Cohesion Fund disbursements to what are described as horizontal conditions.
Funds from the Cohesion Fund at risk?
During a press conference after the first day of the European Union summit, Morawiecki was among several attendees when he addressed remarks made by the EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform, Elisa Ferreira. Journalists noted that Ferreira had suggested that the so-called horizontal conditions must be fulfilled for Cohesion Fund payments to proceed.
Additionally, reporters cited EU Commissioner Didier Reynders, who purportedly indicated that Poland must demonstrate progress not only in the judiciary but also in the protection of LGBTQ+ rights as part of these conditions.
Morawiecki emphasized that there is no problem with Cohesion Fund payments; they are proceeding as planned. He described a typical progression: initial advances are issued, programs move into the design phase, and then into implementation. Expenses, he noted, must first be certified, then qualified, and only afterward are payments made. He added that he had not heard any negative signals either from the European Commission or from Minister Grzegorz Puda, who is the minister responsible for the fund’s administration.
Similarly, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, the Minister for EU Affairs, stressed that there have been no adverse signals from Brussels in this area. He confirmed that conversations with Minister Puda have reinforced the absence of information from the European Commission that would indicate a risk to the execution of the funded projects.
Throughout the conference, reporters highlighted that the core issue is not the disbursement of advances but the reimbursement of already issued invoices, as described by Ferreira. There was an expectation among some journalists that the EU official would have stated clearly that the law governing the Supreme Court holds decisive importance for the cohesion program.
Morawiecki recalled Ferreira’s visit to Poland about six weeks earlier, noting that she could have traveled to discuss the formal kickoff of a new phase of Poland’s Cohesion Fund with a fresh strategic outlook. He also pointed out that the same Commissioner had previously asked him and other colleagues to open a new horizon for the cohesion program in Poland, underscoring the ongoing dialogue on how these funds will be deployed.
He closed by reiterating that the Cohesion Fund implementation currently faces no threat and remains on course for continued support of the country’s development initiatives.
As the EU review process continues, observers say that Poland’s track record on project readiness and compliance will be closely watched. The ongoing discussions emphasize the EU’s emphasis on governance standards as a condition for fund disbursement, while Polish leadership stresses operational clarity and the timely execution of approved programs. The overarching aim remains to ensure that European support translates into concrete investments that bolster regional growth and convergence across Poland and the broader region.