The European Union is poised to approve the release of €6.3 billion ($6.8 billion) in post-pandemic aid to Poland as early as next week in a major vote of confidence in the new government’s ability to mend ties with Brussels, Report informs referring to Bloomberg.
The European Commission is set to accept a package of recent political commitments as sufficient to trigger the first payment from almost €60 billion in grants and loans that have remained blocked over rule-of-law concerns, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A positive EU decision would be a boost for Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose coalition was propelled to victory in October elections on a promise to improve relations with European allies and to end democratic backsliding after eight years of populist rule.
The EU has so far refused to release Poland’s share of the bloc’s post-pandemic aid until it meets a series of conditions, or milestones, that focus on reversing controversial changes in the judiciary introduced by the previous administration.
A final decision hasn’t yet been taken as officials are still ironing out details, the people said. The EU’s executive is assessing the first payment request it received from Warsaw and expects to present its assessment soon, the commission’s spokesperson said in response to questions from Bloomberg.
Once approved by the Commission, the decision would still need a sign-off from EU member states, meaning the actual payments could come at a later date.
The approval of post-pandemic aid would also ultimately pave the way for unlocking an additional €76 billion in cohesion funds for Poland, the people said.