EU to Begin Freeing Up €137 Billion in Polish Aid Next Week
- Poland’s Tusk won election on the promise to release aid
- Warsaw has offered EU a plan to reverse democratic backsliding
Donald Tusk, left and Ursula von der Leyen in Warsaw on Feb. 23.
Photographer: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that Brussels will begin unblocking payments of up to €137 billion ($148 billion) of aid to Poland starting next week, praising Warsaw’s attempts to restore the rule of law after years of populist rule.
The announcement demonstrates confidence in Poland’s new prime minister, Donald Tusk, whose coalition won the elections in October on a promise to improve relations with the European Union and access billions of euros of aid blocked amid concerns over democracy backsliding.