Brussels, 18/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - Poland is willing to contribute to seeking a solution to the problem of the European Constitution, but remains opposed to the dual majority system (set out in the constitutional treaty) for qualified majority decisions at the Council of Ministers, stressed Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Polish Prime Minister, at a press conference on Wednesday after a meeting with the College of European Commissioners and a working lunch with President José Manuel Barroso. “It is necessary to settle the matter (of the Constitution). We did not discuss the details (of future talks) today, but there is a political will to resolve the problem”, including on the Polish side, the prime minister said.
As far as vote weighting in Council is concerned, Poland suggests another formula using the square root of the number (in millions) of inhabitants of each member state to obtain the number of votes allocated to each country during qualified majority voting, confirmed Mr Kaczynski (EUROPE 9397). If dual majority were applied, “Poland would become the least privileged member of the European Union whereas it enjoys quite a favourable situation under the Nice Treaty”, he explained. However, the reasons for Polish objection to dual majority go beyond the defence of national interests, the prime minister stressed. It is a matter of avoiding “hegemonic structures” in the Union that give too much weight to the large countries and tend to push the small countries to one side, he explained, adding it is necessary to have a Union in which each member nation has the impression that its interests are being taken into account.
Poland must provide an “active contribution” to seeking a solution to the problem of the European Constitution, stressed José Manuel Barroso. “I call on all governments without exception to make a real effort. All member states have signed the constitutional treaty. All are therefore obliged to make a real effort to find a solution. That is the European ethic of responsibility. One can defend national interests but this must be done in a European spirit (…). I also expect active commitment on the part of Poland”, he said. When asked about Poland's position on vote-weighting in Council, Mr Barroso repeated that the Commission entirely supports the efforts made by the German EU Presidency and that it is therefore “very cautious” about the idea of reopening the discussion.
More generally speaking, Mr Barroso welcomed the “European commitment” shown by the Polish prime minister and praised the “remarkable changes” that have come about in his country since its accession to the EU in 2004, with economic growth and social development now above the European average. “Poland is comfortable with its place in Europe”, Mr Barroso said, welcoming the fact that the Polish population is “among the most supportive of the EU”. He above all cited the recent Eurobarometer survey, the findings of which show that 73% of the Polish people consider EU membership is beneficial to them.
On the matter of the Russian embargo on Polish meat (see related article page 9), Mr Kaczynski admitted that “without Europe, without the Commission, Poland would be alone” in the face of Russia. It is solidarity that counts, he stressed, before gong on to acknowledge that this solidarity between member nations should also play a part in resolving the EU's constitutional problem. Mr Barroso said he hoped the information provided this week by the Commission would meet with Moscow's satisfaction and that the meeting between Commissioner Kyprianou and the Russian agriculture minister, in Cyprus on Saturday, would allow progress to be made towards lifting the embargo. “It would be the only right decision to take”, he said.
Mr Kaczynski was also questioned by reporters on his policy towards homosexuals (to which he answered that it is the media that is spreading “misunderstanding” and that “there is no persecution of homosexuals in Poland”) as well as on possible legal proceedings against the former Polish leader, Wojciech Jaruzelski, who had declared martial law in December 1981, and whom Kaczynski today compares to Adolf Eichmann. “I do not see why I am treated as an inquisitor”, he said, adding: “Are those responsible for the Eichmann trial treated as inquisitors? I do not see why a criminal with blood on his hands cannot be punished. When there is a crime, it must be punished”. (hb)