Amid a dispute over access to the EU's post-pandemic recovery funds, Zbigniew Ziobro told the FT in an interview that the European Commission would be acting “illegitimately” if it used new powers to withhold funding from Poland over the rule of law dispute.
“Poland should respond to the EU’s blackmail with a veto on all matters that require unanimity in the EU,” he said, as quoted by the newspaper. "Poland should also revise its commitment to EU climate and energy policy, which results in drastic hikes of energy prices."
Ziobro added: “If this dispute escalates, I will demand that Poland suspends its EU contributions. It would be justifiable since the EU illegitimately denies us funds from a joint budget that we also contribute to.”
He insisted that his United Poland party would not accept any concessions to Brussels that would result in Polish sovereignty being limited, the Financial Times reported.
“We will never agree for Poland to have the status of a colony,” he said amid a long-running row over judicial changes.
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Source: PAP, ft.com