Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Brussels: If Europe is to be strong, it must accept Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkan countries
24.06.2022
Today saw the end of the two-day European Council summit in Brussels, devoted, inter alia, to the war in Ukraine and its consequences, as well as the prospect of Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkan countries’ membership in the EU. EU leaders have decided to grant the candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. The European Council has also approved financial aid for Ukraine in the amount of EUR 9 billion.
Ukraine and Moldova as EU candidates
As the head of government pointed out, thanks to the large-scale diplomatic campaign and political talks – primarily from the Polish side – Ukraine was given hope of entering the EU. “For the fighting Ukraine, this is extremely important,” assessed Mateusz Morawiecki.
Aid of EUR 9 billion for Ukraine
Polish Prime Minister reported that the European Council has approved further financial aid for Ukraine in the amount of EUR 9 billion. “Ukraine is in a state of war and does not have the resources to pay nurses, teachers, police officers, border guards and many other public service providers,” explained the head of government.
As he added, the conclusions of the EU summit also included provisions on military aid for Ukraine. “According to our allies, Russia’s advantage in artillery is eightfold, tenfold. How hard it must be to fight such an overwhelming enemy force,” emphasised the Prime Minister. “This is why Poland, as well as the United States, United Kingdom and Baltic countries are doing everything we can to help Ukraine with arms deliveries,” he added.
The head of Polish government also informed that the European Council will work on mechanisms to support Poland and Romania in transporting Ukrainian grain to North Africa and the Middle East. This is to prevent hunger and great migration in these areas, which could threaten the EU in the autumn.
Tackling the energy crisis
One of the topic of the EU summit was the energy crisis caused by Russia. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki held that natural resources are a weapon in the hands of Vladimir Putin. “We knew this beforehand, when we warned about Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, the Northern gas pipelines which transport gas from Russia to Germany,” noted the Prime Minister. “Today, Germany agrees with us in all respects,” he added.
According to the head of Polish government, the alternative to Russian gas is coal. “Poland intends to develop this direction. We want to increase coal extraction, and we are already starting today, in order to avert crisis in autumn and winter,” announced Mateusz Morawiecki.
