European Commission chief José Manuel Barroso and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski called for a strong Cohesion Policy in the context of the upcoming budget overhaul, after their meeting, on 1 September in Brussels.

Komorowski, the pro-European Liberal who on 6 August succeeded Eurosceptic Conservative Lech Kaczynski, killed in a plane crash, was on his first official visit to the EU institutions in Brussels, before heading for Paris and Berlin, on 2 and 3 September. The 58-year-old politician told the press that he wished to signal his country’s European commitment with the visit. The Polish president stressed the need “to reinforce solidarity in the Union,” referring to the “very important” Cohesion Fund for less favoured regions. “It is very important to keep the existing rules because they help bridge the living standards gap” between different regions, he explained. Komorowski used the same argument to defend direct support for farmers.

CONVINCING MEMBER STATES

His comments should be seen in relation to the discussion on the future of the EU budget, to be launched on 29 September with the Commission’s presentation of its budget review (see Europolitics4031). Unlike an earlier unofficial draft made public by the press in late 2009, the text is not expected to argue for renationalisation of the agricultural and cohesion policies. Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski, also a Polish Liberal, does not plan a “revolution” but will propose a seamless “evolution” for these sectors, both of which are important to his country.

Barroso is on the same wavelength, telling reporters that there were “no doubts” about the Commission’s position. It is “committed to a strong economic, social and territorial Cohesion Policy”. He added that he has defended this view his “entire life,” particularly during his political career in Portugal, and hopes “to be able to count on Poland” to convince its European partners during the negotiations on the financial framework 2014-2020, which will start next summer (Poland will hold the EU Council Presidency in the latter half of 2011). The talks are likely to be explosive because for now – owing to the economic crisis – a majority of member states intend to take a restrictive approach in the budget debate. The latest example to date is the states’ decision to slash by €3.6 billion the payment appropriations tabled by the Commission in its 2011 draft budget. Cohesion is the first policy to be affected by these drastic cuts, losing €1 billion.

Komorowski also said in respect to solidarity that he was willing to commit his country to projects “that are not necessarily an obligation for us, such as those related to membership of the eurozone”. Warsaw favours co-financing of a support fund for eurozone countries faced with serious financial difficulties and is opposed to the organisation of economic governance limited to the Eurogroup.

PRIORITIES OF FUTURE PRESIDENCY

The Polish head of state, who has limited powers but enjoys a right of veto that can bar the entry into force of certain laws, also met, on 1 September, the President of the European Parliament, fellow Polish national Jerzy Buzek, who is also a member of the Civic Platform (Liberal) party.

Last June, virtually the entire Polish government travelled to Brussels to meet the full College of Commissioners, a rare occurrence. Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented at that time the priorities of the future Polish EU Presidency, emphasising further development of the internal market, preparation of the financial framework 2014-2020, cooperation in energy security and strengthening of European defence policy and the Eastern Partnership.

“It is very important to keep the existing rules because they help bridge the living standards gap” between different regions