The European Commission (EC) has taken a firm stance on Polish invoices related to projects funded by the European Union’s cohesion funding for the period of 2021-2027. The EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, has stated that the EC will withhold payments until Warsaw fully complies with the funding conditions laid out by Brussels.
In an interview published in the Rzeczpospolita daily on Tuesday, EU Commissioner Elisa Ferreira emphasized that negotiations are ongoing concerning Poland’s adherence to rule-of-law principles. She stressed that this matter requires continuous dialogue, but she also clarified that the specific details fall outside of her scope of responsibility. Ferreira explained that addressing this issue falls under the purview of Didier Reynders, the Commissioner for Justice, and Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for Budget and Administration.
The heart of the problem, as outlined by Ferreira, revolves around a shared understanding of the rule of law principle. This discrepancy in interpretation is the primary reason why discussions are still underway. She further noted that she awaits a ‘green light’ from Commissioners Reynders and Hahn to confirm that Poland has indeed fulfilled the required conditions before payments can be made.
Ferreira assured that the financial settlements for the previous funding period, covering 2014-2020, are not under any threat. She also clarified that while some funds were pre-allocated for the 2021-2027 funding period, the EC can only disburse payments for invoices related to projects carried out in Poland once they have received confirmation that the underlying ‘problems’ have been resolved.