“Developing relationships with neighbours calls for adequate financing, therefore we support suitable budget for external actions in the new financial EU perspective 2021-2027,” pointed out Minister Czaputowicz. “Poland also fully supports the European Commission’s initiatives aimed at supporting its neighbours to counteract the social and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic,” he added.

The meeting was an opportunity to highlight the key role of the Eastern Partnership and the need to ensure its dynamic development after 2020.  “Poland’s new proposals to strengthen the partnership with our Eastern neighbours are inspired by the model of the EU’s cooperation with the Western Balkans under the enlargement policy,” emphasised Minister Czaputowicz. The Polish MFA head also noted that thanks to the Partnership the EU’s Eastern policy is balanced, which is extremely important in the face of Russia’s aggressive attitude.

Minister Czaputowicz also spoke of the increasing Polish involvement in cooperation in the area of the neighbourhood policy’s southern dimension. He noted that since the very beginning of the conflict in Syria Warsaw has been present in the Middle East, both politically and financially. He further announced that in June Poland will donate additional PLN 17 million as part of the so-called Syrian conference. The Polish foreign minister thanked the European Commission for its support for the Polish initiative, aided by the Visegrad Group, to strengthen the component for the fight with COVID-19 in Libya.

The chief of the Polish diplomacy emphasised Warsaw’s continued acceptance of the European Union’s enlargement policy. He also expressed his hope that the enlargement agenda will not be delayed because of the pandemic. “It is key to open the accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia to confirm the EU’s political vision in the region,” he stressed.

 

MFA Press Office

 

Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA