EU releasing 5 billion euros to Poland by yr’s finish as new authorities works to revive rule of legislation
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union will by yr’s finish switch to Poland the primary 5 billion euros in funding that was frozen over democratic backsliding underneath the earlier authorities, the brand new Polish prime minister and the European Commission president stated Friday.
The cash is a component of a bigger tranche that was held up attributable to legal guidelines handed by the earlier nationwide conservative authorities that eroded the independence of judges — one thing that the EU deemed to be a violation of the democratic separation of powers.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated the 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) was arriving symbolically in time for Christmas. The cash is geared toward serving to EU nations recuperate from the power disaster that adopted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine final yr, and cut back their dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
“This is not just a gift. This is serious money earmarked for our energy sovereignty and we will try to spend this money very quickly and wisely,” he stated at a information convention alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of a summit of the 27 member states.
The cash will begin to circulation attributable to pledges by Tusk’s authorities to revive the rule of legislation however extra steps must be taken earlier than it’s all launched. Tusk and his coalition companions received Poland‘s nationwide election pledging to revive rule of legislation and democratic values.
“We know that the rule of law is very important. It is about our place in Europe. It is about our common values,” Tusk stated.
He added that Polish legal professionals, prosecutors, judges and residents “never agreed to Poland without the rule of law. And everyone in their capacity was trying to address this issue.”
Von der Leyen expressed her satisfaction.
“I welcome your commitment to put the rule of law at the top of your government agenda and your determination to address all the concerns that have been expressed over the last years by the European Court and by the Commission,” she stated.
