Top EU official says decisions coming next week on the release of massive funds for Poland
The head of the European Union’s powerful Commission says decisions will be taken soon to release billions of euros to Poland, funds frozen by the bloc over the previous Polish government’s anti-EU policies
WARSAW, Poland — The head of the European Union’s powerful Commission announced on Friday in Warsaw that decisions will be taken soon to release billions of euros to Poland, funds frozen by the bloc over the previous Polish government's anti-EU policies.
Ursula von der Leyen said she had “good news” and that the decision to release 137 billion euros (about $148 billion) will be made next week in Brussels. She spoke following talks with Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who welcomed the announcement and said this «heap of money will be spent well.”
“I have this deep conviction as a Pole that we are restoring historic justice toward a country, toward a nation that in recent decades has done more for the rule of law, for democracy than anybody else in the world,” Tusk said.
He was referring to Poland's history of ousting communist rule in 1989 and subsequently joining of NATO and the EU, as well as last year's parliamentary elections. The vote saw a record high turnout of over 74%, removed the EU-sceptic government and replaced it with a pro-EU one.
Von der Leyen said the EU leaders were “impressed by your efforts and those of the Polish people to restore the rule of law as the backbone of your society,”
“These are momentous times in Poland for the promotion of democratic values,” von der Leyen said.
She said the money will be coming from the EU's Next Generation fund meant to help bloc's members to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic downturn and also from the cohesion fund, that supports infrastructure development.
Read more on abcnews.go.com
