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Polish PM heads to Prague for two days of talks with European leaders

06.10.2022 09:30
Poland’s prime minister is set to attend the first-ever meeting of the European Political Community on Thursday, followed by an informal summit of the European Council a day later. 
Mateusz Morawiecki.
Mateusz Morawiecki.PAP/Rafał Guz

Mateusz Morawiecki will depart for the Czech capital Prague before noon on Thursday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

The get-togethers of the European Political Community and the European Council are expected to focus on security issues amid Russia's war in Ukraine as well as energy matters, climate topics and economic policies, according to officials.

European Political Community meeting

Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller said on Wednesday: “We regard the establishment of the European Political Community as an attempt to strengthen the West and democratic forces in the current situation.”

He added: “We hope that the Prague summit will contribute to building European unity in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and help convince all partners to bring their policy towards Russia closer to the European Union’s position, including by adopting sanctions.”

Set up earlier this year, the European Political Community is a platform for political dialogue and cooperation between the EU and 17 of its neighbours, including the UK, Serbia and Norway, as well as Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, officials told reporters. 

Informal European Council meeting

Meanwhile on Friday, EU heads of state and government will hold informal talks in the Czech capital. 

A central topic will be the consequences of the war in Ukraine, reporters were told. 

Officials in Warsaw said that Poland stresses the need for further military support to the Ukrainian army, and also "calls on the EU to supply Kyiv as soon as possible with the EUR 9 billion in financial assistance that was promised in the spring."

EU leaders are also set to discuss the bloc’s energy policy.

Müller told reporters: “Poland stresses the need for the EU to secure stable supplies of gas from outside the bloc, as well as step up domestic production.”

He added: “We’ll also reiterate the Polish proposal to freeze prices in the EU’s emissions-trading scheme (ETS).”

In addition, the informal get-together will focus on the current economic situation, including the challenge of inflation, according to officials.

EU leaders are expected to "discuss how to coordinate policy responses in a spirit of solidarity and in defence of common interests."

Two weeks after the informal meeting in Prague, the European Council will convene again, this time in Brussels, Belgium, the IAR news agency reported. 

Thursday is day 225 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, consilium.europa.eu, politico.eu