An important EU official comes to see Tusk. “We need something that doesn’t require presidential approval.”

EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders is due to visit Warsaw next week to start negotiations on how to unlock billions of euros more in EU funds –

The EU wants to “bypass” President Duda?

We need something that does not require presidential approval, but is at the same time as binding as possible

– one of the EU officials told “FT”.

“The return of Donald Tusk as prime minister after the October elections was welcomed as a sign of hope by other politicians defending the EU and its values. His electoral success stands in contrast to the recent victories of Eurosceptic and right-wing parties in Slovakia and the Netherlands,” emphasizes “FT”. When Tusk visited Brussels last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told him to “be sure the Commission is on his side.” – The biggest challenge for Tusk is to repair the rule of law without violating the law, and I think it is also a challenge for the European Commission – said Piotr Bogdanowicz, professor of EU law at the University of Warsaw.

Pełczyńska-Nałęcz: Unlocking of the Polish KPO at the turn of March and April

The Polish National Reconstruction Plan should be unblocked at the turn of March and April at the latest – this is what the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy believes. Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz yesterday and today talked to the European Commission about the possibility of the first payment from KPO.

So far, Poland has received an advance payment of EUR 5 billion. The first application that Warsaw has already submitted amounted to EUR 7 billion. The minister announced the submission of four more applications this year for the payment of approximately EUR 23 billion. – There are very serious delays both in terms of reforms and investments – said Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.

– We have ambitions to accelerate this year and we are confident that everything will be successful – added the Polish minister. The European Commission, which has so far blocked the payment of money, said that reforms were necessary to guarantee the independence of the judiciary. Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said that the government has already prepared an action plan, including legislative projects that will be submitted soon and will quickly gain the support of the parliamentary majority.

“The lack of President Duda’s signature will not block the KPO”

In her opinion, the lack of President Andrzej Duda’s signature on government bills will not block payments from KPO. – This is my opinion. This is not a sentence that I can say now on behalf of the Commissioners or on behalf of the European Union, but my opinion would be – .

– What I declare, and what is obvious, is that in these matters of the rule of law, there will be a willingness to talk to the president, openness to dialogue, and whatever decision will be made is the president’s decision. There is an awareness here that even the best will of the government cannot determine the president’s decision. I have the impression that there is understanding of this situation, and there is also understanding of the situation in the European Commission, that if there is an absolute will of the government majority for the rule of law, then possible anti-rule of law actions of some political players in Poland should not stand in the way of important investments for Polish citizens – added the head of MFiPR.

In total, our KPO includes 50 reforms, which are measured by 106 milestones. In total, Poland is to receive almost EUR 60 billion from the KPO, of which EUR 34.5 billion are low-interest loans, and the rest – just over EUR 25 billion – are non-repayable grants.