Poland ready to accept EU summit declaration on rule of law to drop budget veto

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Poland would be ready to drop its veto to the EU’s 1.8 trillion financial package if EU leaders endorse an explanatory declaration on the link between EU funds and the rule of law, Poland’s deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin said on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists after meeting several top EU Commission officials Gowin said Poland realised that a veto to the EU budget for 2021-2027 and the recovery fund of 750 billion euros would hurt Poland and other EU countries financially.

“We all realise that in the case of a veto there will be a provisional budget which, contrary to some voices in Poland, would not be good for us,” Gowin told reporters.

He said that if a re-negotiation of the rule of law regulation, which Poland and Hungary oppose, is not possible, then Warsaw could accept a binding explanatory declaration attached to it.

“The explanatory declaration, prepared by the Commission, would have to be endorsed by the leaders. It could make clear that the rule of law regulation would not be used to exert pressure on member states in areas other than the proper use of EU funds,” Gowin said.