Bulgarian PM demands EU Council boss Tusk and Brussels STOP meddling in Poland
BULGARIAN Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has urged European Council President Donald Tusk to stop interfering in domestic issues, insisting it could give the European Union “sleepless nights”.
Mr Borisov demanded the Council had to “remain neutral and impartial” as he launched the Bulgarian presidency of the European Union body.
Mr Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, is a critic of the current Polish Government’s judicial reforms, which prompted the EU begin the process to remove the country’s voting rights.
In an interview, Mr Tusk said the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party could be the next country out of the EU’s exit door, admitting the Polish Government could push for “freedom from the burden” of membership.
He said Brussels’ trust in Warsaw was now “dead” due to the overhaul of the judiciary system, admitting PiS already see an EU exit as a “goal”.
EU
We have to remain neutral, impartial
Mr Tusk said: “I have no doubt that for PiS one of the goals is to free Polish politics from the burden of the EU.
“I can easily imagine a situation when Poland finds itself among the net payers, then the government in Poland would feel it is time to ask Poles if they want Poland to continue being in the EU.
“For PiS, the benefits of being in the EU relate only to the balance of payments.”
Mr Tusk’s comments, however, prompted a backlash from Bulgarian Prime Minister Mr Borisov, who warned about domestic interference from Brussels.
Speaking to at the launch of Bulgaria’s Council presidency, Mr Borisov said: “We have to remain neutral, impartial.”
He warned it would set a “dangerous precedent” for EU member states to vote on whether Poland risked a “serious breach” of rule of law standards, adding a vote against Warsaw would give the EU “sleepless nights”, and should be avoided.
The European Commission has said the Polish Government will face further sanctions unless it backs down from its planned overhaul before the end of March.
The Commission, last month, triggered Article 7 procedure, which could eventually lead to the suspension of Poland’s EU voting rights.
Mr Borisov said Bulgaria “will do its best” not to bring talk of sanctions to the Council, adding: “If we have to go to voting we’ll have sleepless nights on how to vote.”
Bulgarian officials have since confirmed Mr Borisov was referring to the role of the President of the European Council when using “we” in his speech in Sofia.
The event was marred by protests, with demonstrators burning EU flags outside the Sofia venue attended by European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Mr Tusk.
The Sofia Globe reported 11 protests held across the Bulgarian capital because residents feel ignored by Brussels.
