Poland's PM: we don't want a divided Europe of 2 speeds

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA , Associated Press

Dec. 12, 2017 5:54 PM ET

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's new prime minister told parliament Tuesday that his government opposes what he called a two-speed European Union that he said divides nations into better and worse ones.

Alik Keplicz

Poland's new Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki gives his policy speech in the parliament in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Morawiecki outlined his foreign and home policy goals, a day after he was sworn in and tasked with boosting the economy and Poland's image abroad. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

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Mateusz Morawiecki outlined his foreign and domestic policies in a speech to lawmakers a day after he was sworn in and given the task of boosting the economy and Poland's image abroad.

Later, the lower house, which is dominated by the ruling party, voted 243-192 with no abstentions to approve Morawiecki's new governing team.

A 49-year-old former international banker, Morawiecki succeeds Beata Szydlo at the helm of the same ruling Law and Justice party team.

Poland has developed a number of recent conflicts with EU leaders who have threatened punitive actions to curb Polish moves seen as going against EU values. Morawiecki warned against ignoring Poland's voice at a time when Europe is debating its future.

"Dear Europe, Poland's piece fits perfectly into the European puzzle for sure, but it mustn't be placed the wrong way or by force, because by doing so you will destroy the picture and our piece," Morawiecki said.

He stressed that while the EU is debating its future shape in anticipation of Britain's leaving the 28-member bloc and under economic and social pressures, Poland opposes any divisions.

"We don't want a union of two speeds. We do not agree to Europe being divided into better ones and worse ones," where stronger nations are favored.

"That's not right," he said.

The areas of contention that have distanced Poland from most other EU nations include Warsaw's refusal to accept migrants within a sharing program, its reorganization of the judiciary that is seen as a threat to the rule of law and the country's logging in a pristine forest.

Morawiecki said Poland will abide by the ruling of a top EU court, expected within months, on the forest issue.

Ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Poland's most powerful politician, said that a "deep" reshuffling of the government would probably take place in January.

Police also removed some people from a crowd of a few hundred anti-government protesters blocking a street near the parliament building while demonstrating against the ruling party's policies.

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	Dec. 12, 2017 5:54 PM ET
	WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's new prime minister told parliament Tuesday that his government opposes what he called a two-speed European Union that he said divides nations into better and worse ones.