The European Union’s executive Commission has proposed banning all Russian oil imports through the northern Druzhba pipeline, a move supported by Poland but reportedly blocked by Germany.

While Poland and Germany are no longer buying Russian oil via the northern Druzhba pipeline through Belarus, Germany’s Schwedt refinery is still using the pipeline to import so-called KEBCO oil from Kazakhstan, according to biznesalert.pl.

Some analysts have speculated that Poland is pushing for EU sanctions on the pipeline to avoid having to pay compensation for breach of contract with Russian suppliers.

Germany’s opposition to the proposed ban could complicate the EU’s efforts to adopt the 11th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the IAR news agency reported.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said on Monday that the new round of punitive measures against Moscow would be ready “no sooner than in May,” according to a report by Polish state news agency PAP.

Due to continued resistance from France, Hungary, and Bulgaria, this 11th package will not include sanctions on Russia’s nuclear sector, while strong objections by Belgium mean that a ban on Russian diamonds will also be missing from the new measures, the IAR news agency said.

Source: Polskie Radio

On Tuesday, the Polish government adopted a new draft law on the protection of minors against access to inappropriate content, such as pornography, on the Internet.

According to information on the Chancellery of the Prime Minister’s website, the draft requires “Internet access service providers… to introduce a free, effective, and easy-to-use mechanism for blocking access to pornographic content on the Internet.” Failure to do so could result in fines.

In addition, providers will have to undertake promotional activities “to make subscribers aware of the possibility of using the service for limiting access to pornographic content.”

During Tuesday’s press conference, government spokesperson Piotr Müller stressed that the solution would be voluntary for those parents “who would like to protect their children from inappropriate content” and was similar to programs already in place in other countries.

The new regulations are set to enter into force on September 1, 2023.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Taxpayers in Poland are reminded that May 2 is the deadline for settling PIT (Personal Income Tax) for 2023, either electronically via the “Your e-PIT” system or by filing a paper document.

Most taxpayers (94%) in the area covered by the Third Tax Office in Gdańsk, typically choose the electronic option as refunds are usually received within two weeks, compared to up to three months for paper submissions.

According to Dariusz Jankowiak, head of the Third Tax Office in Gdańsk, his branch has already declared PLN 62 million in tax refunds with almost 35,000 PIT returns already submitted, a 10,000 increase from last year. In addition, the average return this year is PLN 2,111, significantly higher than last year’s PLN 800.

Jankowiak attributes the increase in tax refunds to three factors: the reduction of tax from 17 to 12 percent, the increase of the tax-free amount to PLN 30,000, and the raising of the second tax threshold to PLN 120,000, resulting in higher tax returns.

The most popular tax deductions claimed by taxpayers include relief for children and single parents, zero PIT for young people up to 26 years old, relief for working seniors, thermo-modernization relief, and relief for families with four or more children.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Foresters in Poland’s Tatra National Park are appealing to tourists not to trample the fragile crocus flowers currently blooming around the park.

Along with local government authorities, the Tatra National Park has launched the “Hokus Krokus” public awareness campaign to educate tourists about protecting these eye-pleasing but extremely delicate purple flowers.

Visitors in previous years have damaged the flowers by sitting or laying blankets on them, running over them with cars, or trampling them while taking selfies to share on social media.

The park’s Chochołowska Valley alone attracts up to 6,000 visitors a day when the crocuses are in full bloom in late April, Poland’s PAP news agency has reported.

The variety of the crocus growing in the Tatra National Park, formally known as Crocus scepusiensis, is protected under Polish law. More information on the crocuses can be found on the campaign website at: http://hokuskrokus.pl/

Source: Polskie Radio

Weather

Today will be partly cloudy and cool, with very little chance of rain and a light breeze coming in from the west. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than yesterday, with a daytime high of 9°C or 49°F dropping to a low of 3°C or 38°F overnight. Similar weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for more rain showers later in the week.

Elizabeth Peck