Jourova hosted Poland’s Szynkowski vel Sęk in Brussels on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Afterwards, Jourova said in a tweet: “We had a constructive discussion with Poland’s Minister of EU Affairs Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk about the independence of judiciary in Poland, especially in the context of the judicial milestones in the Recovery Plan.”
She added: “This was a step in the right direction and I am looking forward to continuing the dialogue. The milestones, agreed with the Polish government, have to be met in full. We are ready to support Poland’s efforts to achieve this.”
'Openness for dialogue'
Meanwhile, Poland’s Szynkowski vel Sęk told reporters: “It has been a productive, intensive day, during which I sought to learn in more detail about the doubts that remain in the European Commission and because of which the European Commission has not yet declared its readiness to release funds under Poland’s National Recovery Plan. I believe I have dispelled some of these doubts.”
Szynkowski vel Sęk said he had declared Poland’s “openness for dialogue,” adding that Warsaw expected a similar approach from Brussels.
“The coming days will show to what extent this openness, declared by European Commission officials today, will indeed translate into concrete action and decisions,” he added.
Szynkowski vel Sęk told reporters that his talks in Brussels “focused on many issues,” reflecting “the many challenges facing the EU, especially those resulting from Russia's aggression against Ukraine.”
He added: “In the face of these challenges, we have many shared tasks that need to be accomplished: macro-financial assistance to Ukraine, issues to do with sanctions, issues to do with the freezing of Russian assets. Yet the problems that remain between European institutions and Poland also need to be addressed. All of these topics were discussed. And the talks will continue.”
Post-pandemic relief
Poland expects to receive EUR 23.9 billion in grants and EUR 11.5 billion in loans from the EU's pandemic relief fund under its National Recovery Plan, the PAP news agency reported.
Brussels says that before these funds can be unlocked Poland must meet a series of rule-of-law “milestones,” including full compliance with an EU court ruling requiring Poland to change its rules for disciplining judges, according to news reports.
The chief of the EU's executive Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has stated that Poland has not yet made enough progress to justify releasing the funds, the PAP news agency reported.
Thursday is day 260 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, interia.pl