Polish Deputy Foreign Minister said on Friday that disputed legislation passed by his country’s lawmakers this week aimed to tighten media ownership rules and strengthen the protection of the domestic media market.

The contested bill, which was approved by Poland’s lower house on Wednesday, provides that companies from outside the European Economic Area may own no more than 49 percent of the country’s licensed television and radio stations, which is similar to legislation existing in some other European countries. He argued that until now, „chains of fictitious firms” could be used to show that officially a broadcaster is owned by a European Union-based company. The disputed media bill will now be sent to the upper house of Poland’s parliament, the Senate, for further debate.

Source – Polskie Radio, cadmus.eui.eu

PM unveils plan to help Poles buy homes

Thousands of families will receive funding for mortgages in Poland every year under a new programme being developed by the country’s ruling conservatives, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced. He made the announcement as he briefed reporters on an initiative called „A Home Without a Down Payment,” which is part of the government’s flagship package of socio-economic policies collectively known as the Polish New Deal. Under the new housing initiative, the government plans to guarantee mortgages issued by banks that join the programme by signing an agreement with state-owned development bank BGK, according to officials.

Source – Polskie Radio, cadmus.eui.eu

‘Lucifer’ heat wave heads towards Poland

The heat wave dubbed “Lucifer” which swept across Italy earlier this week sending temperatures soaring to previously unseen levels is headed towards Poland according to meteorological measurements. On Wednesday, a high of 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 Fahrenheit) was reported in Sicily in what is believed to be a new European record. Now the heat wave is moving into Poland. A spokesman for the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, the country’s weather agency, said, “The mercury is set to rise above 30 degrees Celsius. Sunday promises to be the hottest, with 33 degrees Celsius tops, in the country’s western and south western regions.

Source – Polskie Radio

Plane makes emergency landing at Gdańsk airport

And finally, a passenger plane that took off from Gdańsk airport to Kraków was forced to make an emergency landing back at the airport yesterday. The aircraft, a De Havilland Canada Dash turbo prop plane with a capacity of 90 passengers, experienced an engine failure shortly after take off. The plane returned to Gdańsk airport, where standard emergency procedures were invoked. The plane landed safely and there were no reported injuries.

Source – Polskie Radio

Weather

Today will be a sunny day with scattered clouds in a moderate breeze with temperatures reaching 22 degrees centigrade (72 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, dropping to 14 degrees overnight. Sunday will remain sunny with scattered clouds in a moderate breeze and temperatures of 22 degrees during the day and 12 degrees overnight

Martin Caren/raf