Poland to propose "Marshall Plan for Belarus" - PM

2020-09-14 21:04 update: 2020-09-17, 11:32
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Phot. PAP/Leszek Szymański
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Phot. PAP/Leszek Szymański
PM Mateusz Morawiecki on Monday informed that he will propose a "Marshall Plan for Belarus" at the next EU Council sitting. Earlier on Monday Morawiecki discussed Belarus with parliamentary caucuses and circles.

Morawiecki wrote on Facebook after the meeting that the plan has been consulted with the other Visegrad Group countries (V4, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) and will be proposed in its name.

Regarding the three-hour parliamentary talks, Morawiecki said it was "building" to see that Poland's government and opposition were able to unite around the Belarusian situation, which he called "of major importance for Poland."

He added that all sides were in "undisputable agreement" that Poland had to support the strive for freedom, democracy and independence in Belarus.

Morawiecki said that he also informed parliamentarians about progress in the implementation of a "Solidarity With Belarus" aid programme, to which the Polish government has so far channelled PLN 50 million (EUR 11.2 million).

He added that he also informed about plans to present a "Marshall Plan for Belarus" scheme at the next EU Council sitting on behalf of the V4 countries. Morawiecki said the plan contained economic proposals for Belarus in the case of a free election in the country.

The next EU Council sitting is scheduled for September 24-25.

Recounting Morawiecki's Monday talks, his aide Michal Dworczyk said the plan for Belarus will contain "a number of mainly economic proposals, but not only, that would be offered to Belarus if the elections were repeated and conducted properly."

"This is a proposal to help Belarus and a certain road map for Belarus linked to the establishment of a stabilisation fund and with the use of a number of other financial mechanisms, which the prime minister will speak about in detail," Dworczyk said. (PAP)