The European Commission is releasing money that is part of the post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery plan blocked following a standoff between the EU and the populists of the Law and Justice (PiS) party then in power. This time, Poland presented a reform plan convincing enough to qualify for European Union money.
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The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Friday in Warsaw the upcoming release of EU funds for the Polandin recognition of the efforts of the new pro-European government to realign the country with the principles of the rule of law.
It’s a real sigh of relief for the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tuskpoints out our correspondent in Warsaw, Martin Chabal. Since coming to power in December, unlocking European recovery funds has been one of his main priorities. For this, the Polish Prime Minister had to present a plan for reforms of the judicial system, judged to be under the control of political power after the modifications of the Law and Justice party.
For the President of the European Commission, Poland is on the right track. She even said she was impressed by the efforts put in place to restore the rule of law. “ Your efforts are important, given the reforms you have initiated and the steps you have taken regarding the independence of the courts », she said during a meeting with the media.
Money for Polish farmers
Poland should already receive almost one and a half billion euros quite quickly after the first payment. A sum which will be allocated to farmers, who demonstrate and block the border with Ukraine since several weeks. Money to help them modernize their crops and adapt to European standards. Rules against which they express their anger and dismay, while they face a drop in the prices of raw materials since the start of the war and the importation of Ukrainian cereals.
The European Commission had activated in December 2017 against Poland Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, provided for in the event of threats to the rule of law. This procedure – which has since also been initiated against Hungary – can in theory go as far as a suspension of a state’s voting rights in the Council of the EU.