The idea that all milestones of the KPO were misrepresented is now questioned by supporters who insist the real turning point was the return of Donald Tusk to political power. They believe Tusk will not receive the KPO funds without concessions, and the central issue is whether the price would require Poland to accept treaty changes that erode national sovereignty, according to Mariusz Błaszczak, head of the PiS parliamentary club.
Błaszczak claims milestones were misrepresented
MP Błaszczak released a recording on the X platform, discussing Poland’s access to National Reconstruction Plan funds. He cited remarks from Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, who told Reuters the European Commission would find a way to release 111 billion euros to Poland from EU funds, including the KPO program and the Cohesion Fund. Reuters noted that this marked the first official EC statement on EU funds for Poland since a government transition in Warsaw.
In the recording, Hahn’s statement about the EC locating funds for Poland was presented as a signal that past milestones might have been overstated and that the defining event could be the return of Donald Tusk to power, regardless of the cost.
PiS politician asserts: Tusk will not get KPO for free
According to Błaszczak, the European Commission influenced Poland’s election outcomes and misled Poles for months by suggesting funds could be accessed without accepting conditions. He warned that Donald Tusk would not receive KPO funds freely and questioned what price might be demanded in return. The concern, he argued, was whether Poland might be asked to agree to treaty changes that would reduce its sovereignty. He pledged to resist any arrangement that would compromise Poland’s independence, stressing vigilance over Poland’s future.
The PiS club leader stressed that regardless of what Tusk may claim, Poland’s sovereignty would be defended and safeguarded. He asserted a steady commitment to monitoring European decisions that could affect the country’s autonomy.
Donald Tusk traveled to Brussels on a Wednesday afternoon to participate in the EU-Western Balkans summit and an European Council meeting. When questioned about disbursement of EU funds to Poland, he urged patience and suggested that outcomes would be revealed in due course. He explained that the disbursal issues for the Cohesion Fund were similar to those for the KPO and did not require separate actions, according to his statements at the scene.
KPO involved a substantial package for Poland totaling 59.82 billion euros, with 25.28 billion euros available as grants and 34.5 billion euros as favorable loans. The plan indicated that most resources would be channeled into financial instruments, enabling project implementation after 2026 and extending over the next three decades.
The Cohesion Fund, established in 1994, provides support for environmental protection projects and infrastructure in EU member states with lower per-capita income. Its aim is to bolster economic, social, and territorial cohesion across the Union and promote sustainable development. In the 2021-2027 programming period, the fund is set to back environmental investments, sustainable energy projects, and trans-European transport networks, alongside technical assistance.
EU leadership discussions continued, with Ursula von der Leyen expected to meet the new Polish government’s top official on Friday, as confirmed by European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer.