Speaking during a working visit to Prague, where he met Czech President Milos Zeman, Duda said: “There is a preliminary agreement drawn up. Work on it is still underway.”
He added: “The agreement is the result of very strenuous efforts by Poland, Hungary but also the German presidency” of the EU.
Warsaw, along with Budapest, has been warning that it could veto the bloc’s 2021-2027 long-term budget over a proposal to tie access to cash from Brussels with the observance of the rule of law.
The two countries both deny accusations by Brussels of violating democratic principles and undermining the independence of their courts.
The Polish government spokesman said on Tuesday evening there was a chance of reaching an agreement on the budget at a summit of European leaders taking place on Thursday and Friday.
But spokesman Piotr Muller said Poland and Hungary were maintaining their position that any assessment of adherence to the rule of law should be a separate issue from pay-outs of EU funds.
Muller was speaking after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban on Tuesday to discuss their countries’ stance.
Morawiecki has told EU leaders his country opposes the use of “non-objective criteria” to decide how much funds member states receive from the bloc.
(pk)
Source: Polish Radio