Poland’s Donald Tusk Meets with Top EU Officials in Brussels

Poland’s opposition leader, Donald Tusk, who is the Civic Platform’s candidate to be the next Prime Minister, recently met with EU officials in Brussels in an effort to unblock post-pandemic recovery funds for Poland that were frozen earlier in a political move by Brussels. Tusk stated his meeting with European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen was meant to “speed up the process of Poland’s full return to the EU.”

Poland’s EU recovery funds, amounting to about 34 billion EUR in grants, had previously been suspended over alleged “rule of law” concerns, with Brussels demanding that Poland cease judicial reforms that were voted for by a majority of the electorate in the previous election. After the meeting Tusk reported that the EU “is ready to adopt a flexible approach” in unblocking the recovery funds and helping Poland support Ukrainian refugees and strengthening its border with Belarus.

Source: PolskieRadio

Polish Gov’t Spokesman says MEPs Seek to Effectively Abolish Nation States

On Tuesday, Polish Government Spokesman Piotr Müler made a remark in an interview that “The changes to EU treaties currently being proposed in fact mean the abolition of nation states and the creation of an EU superstate.” His comments referenced the EU legislature’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) “Proposals of the European Parliament for the Amendment of the Treaties.”

There were 267 changes to the treaties proposed in the 120 page document advocated for by five European Parliament groups: the European People’s Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the Liberal Renew Group, the Greens, and the Communist Left. They proposed the abolition of veto rights to EU member states in 65 policy areas, including the transfer of powers to the EU from member states in regards to foreign and security policy, manufacturing, and education.

The European Conservatives and Reformist group of the parliament refused to endorse the changes, stating that they undermine the sovereignty of EU nation state members and turn the EU into a centralized European Superstate.

Source: PolskieRadio

Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Leaves Post after 4 Years

Bartosz Cichocki announced the end of his service as Poland’s ambassador to Ukraine on Tuesday. Cichocki is leaving the role after the customary tenure of four years. His farewell ceremony will take place in Kyiv on Thursday.

Cichocki was the only EU ambassador to remain in Kyiv despite the Russian bombardment, and one of only two foreign diplomats to do so along with the papal nuncio. He has spent the last 20 months coordinating Polish military and humanitarian aid in Ukraine, and was formally thanked by Ukrainian Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Parliament, Olena Kondratiuk, for his service.

Source: PolskieRadio

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz Advances in Swiss Tennis Tournament

Polish tennis player Hubert Hurkacz has advanced to the second round of the Swiss Indoor Tennis Tournament in Basel. The 26 year old was victorious against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, scoring 7-6, 6-3 in the first round of the tournament.

Hurkacz, coached by American Craig Boynton, has seven singles titles under his belt and is now ranked No. 11 in the world. He will next face off against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

Source: PolskieRadio

Weather

Today’s weather will be overcast with possible light, scattered rainfall all day. The temperature is predicted to range between 7 and 9 degrees Celsius or 44 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 93%.

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