Poland PM: cuts in EU aid would contradict EU rules

Record ID: 877474

  • Title: Poland PM: cuts in EU aid would contradict EU rules
  • Date: 31st May 2017
  • Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (‪MAY 31, 2017‬) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF LAZIENKI PALACE, WHERE MEETING TAKES PLACE POLISH PRIME MINISTER BEATA SZYDLO AND SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER ROBERT FICO TALKING ON BALCONY OF VENUE SZYDLO AND FICO TALKING AND ENTERING BUILDING SZYDLO AND FICO ENTERING CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRIME MINISTER, BEATA SZYDLO, SAYING: "Proposals to withhold structural funds for selected member states is simply contradictory to EU treaties." MEMBERS OF SLOVAK DELEGATION LISTENING FICO TALING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER, ROBERT FICO, SAYING: "Lets stop playing with dangerous weapons such as European funds, like this: 'we won't give it to you if you don't not listen (us)' or 'we will give it to you if you will listen (us)' or other terms. Our position is that it [European funds] is a value, it is a standard financial instrument and it would become the subject of political trade." SZYDLO AND FICO SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING CONFERENCE SZYDLO AND FICO LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2017 16:47
  • Keywords: EU funds Szydlo Germany
  • Location: WARSAW, POLAND
  • City: WARSAW, POLAND
  • Country: Poland
  • Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016J62PMV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Proposals to stop certain European Union members from receiving the bloc's funds contradict the treaties governing the bloc, Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said on Wednesday (May 31).
    Germany's government has set out proposals to freeze access to EU funds for countries that fail to meet EU standards on the rule of law, according to a document seen by Reuters.
    The seven-page document aims to guide Berlin's approach to upcoming Brussels negotiations on post-2020 changes to the system by which the EU supports development in its poorer members.
    "Proposals to withhold structural funds for selected member states is simply contradictory to EU treaties," Szydlo told journalists, answering a question about the proposal.
    The European Commission, the EU executive arm, has launched a probe into Szydlo's government's adherence to rule of law standards.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register