Backing Shield East in lower house is opposition's chance for redemption - PM
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that supporting the draft resolution regarding the Shield East programme in the Polish lower house will be a chance for Poland's anti-EU parties to redeem themselves after voting against the EU defence resolution in the European Parliament (EP).
Tusk on Thursday set out for Brussels to attend the meeting of the European Council. At a press conference ahead of his departure, he lashed at the Polish opposition camp, including the nationalist-leaning Law and Justice (PiS) and far-right Confederation, once again, saying that "every vote, every political move, which hinders Europe’s uniting around security, armament, around the Polish border - is an act of Russian sabotage."
"It is necessary to call things plain and simple... the two main opposition forces in Poland - the Law and Justice party and the Confederation - have voted against a project that will be Putin's future nightmare," he said.
On March 12, the European Parliament backed the Rearm Europe plan, with 419 legislators voting in favour and 204 against, including members of PiS and Confederation. The resolution also called the Shield East a flagship project for the EU's security, an initiative aimed at fortifying Poland along its Belarusian and Russian borders.
The draft resolution presented to the Sejm, lower house, by the MEPs of the centrist Civic Coalition (KO), the backbone of the current coalition government, expresses full support for the EP defence resolution and highlights the entry about the Shield East project as of utmost importance.
Tusk said that the draft is important, because it is a way to show that the vote in the EP was an "accident at work" and that "all key political forces in Poland are nevertheless of one mind on the issue of Shield East, Polish defence capabilities and the unification of Europe around security."
He added that it "has no practical consequences, but it is an opportunity to repair the reputation, and I would say more strongly, to wash the disgrace off those who voted in Europe against a secure Poland, against a secure eastern border."
He also said that this EU’s most important European project in decades regarding the safety, defence and unity of Europe was largely made possible thanks to Polish efforts, especially when it comes to aspects directly related to Europe’s eastern border.
"I had to convince many partners in Europe that the security of Europe, of NATO, of the entire continent, depends to a large extent on how secure the border between Europe, Russia and Belarus, that is, our Polish border, will be," he said.
Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also commented on the situation at a press conference on Thursday. In his view, the vote on the lower house resolution will answer the question "who is for the safety of Poland" and who "only gives beautiful statements, but when it comes to concrete things, can’t even vote well in the European Parliament."
He spoke about the previous government led by PiS, saying: "Our predecessors couldn’t establish such a (defence - PAP) programme, so today they at least shouldn’t stand in the way."
"Through this resolution they can wash away their faults and sins in terms of omissions, negligence and casting the wrong vote in the European Parliament. It will be a credibility test - who is for a safe Poland," said Kosiniak-Kamysz. (PAP)
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