Poland prime minister HITS OUT at EU’s multi-speed Brussels plan

Beata Szydio told a press conference at the EU summit in Belgium that any discussion about the bloc’s future should focus on bringing the remaining 27 member states together, instead of creating a tiered-system of nations based on a range of socio-political values. 

Szydio was referring to the European Commission’s white paper, published in March, which set out the “five scenarios” for the future of Europe by 2025.

One of the proposals was creating a two-speed Europe, whereby willing member states “do more together in specific areas such as defence, internal security or social matters”.

The illustrative report suggested a mini-bloc of 15 countries sharing a police and magistrates corps to tackle cross border crime and sharing security information, with the remaining 12 nations agreeing to “harmonise their liability rules and technical standards”.

But Szydio said: “If we are to change the method of work, it’s obvious that it’s path that leads to unity.”

Recalling previous EU summits where the Commission officials had called for togetherness, she added: “For Poland the most important thing is that the EU puts into force what it agreed in last Bratislava and Rome. 

“We agreed to unity of the EU.

“This is the Polish position and agreed by the whole V4.” 

The V4 is the Visegard group of EU countries – Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

Last week Romania also rejected the notion of a multi-speed Europe, during a visit from European Council President Donald Tusk. 

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said in a statement: “Such options will only deepen the divisions between the member states.”