Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement at a press conference after talks in Warsaw with European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen.
He described Szczerski as “a person who is well-versed in the realities of the European Union” and who would make “a very good commissioner."
Morawiecki also told reporters that his more than two-hour meeting with von der Leyen “lived up to expectations on a huge number of issues."
“My entire conversation with Ursula von der Leyen was about the future, a positive future for the EU and for Poland as a key member of the European Union," he said.
Morawiecki's talks with von der Leyen focused on sources of income for the European Union, migration, trade and the staffing of European Commission positions, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz was quoted as saying earlier in the day that his country was interested in securing “a significant portfolio” in the next European Commission, one “important for the EU and reflecting the significance of Poland in the EU.”
The current Polish commissioner, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, is in charge of the EU single market, industry, entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Krzysztof Szczerski is chief of staff and a senior foreign policy adviser to Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Earlier this year, he made an unsuccessful bid for an international position as deputy head of NATO.
Krzysztof Szczerski. Photo: Wojciech Kusiński/Polish Radio
Germany’s von der Leyen was this month elected as the next president of the European Commission.
EU leaders in early July named the former German defence minister as their choice to helm the European Commission after opposition by countries including Poland to socialist-backed Dutch contender Frans Timmermans.
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Source: TVP Info, IAR