– I think this is very detrimental to this match. High-level meetings about our neighbor, our region – said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, in “Kropka nad i”. The former deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Polish ambassador to Russia commented on the talks of the four leaders on Ukraine, to which the Polish representative was not invited. In her opinion, such a move “does not build anyone's security.”
Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz (Poland 2050, Third Way) – former deputy head of the Ministry of Diplomacy and former Polish ambassador to Russia – spoke in “Kropka nad i” on TVN24 about Friday's meeting in Berlin of four leaders: president USA Joe BidenChancellor German Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
They discussed the possibility of ending Russia's war against Ukraine and talked about the situation in the Middle East. The Polish representative was not invited to these talks.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski he said in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24, a moment before the interview in “Kropka nad i”, that “the hosts decide who they want to invite” and “we are not present in all formulas”. – No decisions were made there. A statement has been published. From what I hear, yes Middle East dominated the decisions made there. Please remember that this was a haphazard meeting organized as a replacement for the meeting at which the president was supposed to be present Andrzej Duda in Ramstein. I wouldn't attach so much importance to it, Sikorski said.
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz: a very uninteresting signal to the Kremlin
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz – when asked whether she was surprised that the Polish Prime Minister was not invited to this meeting – admitted that she was “surprised” that the Prime Minister did not take part in the talks. Donald Tusk. – I think it was clearly the hosts' decision. I think it's just really detrimental to this match. High-level meetings about our neighbor and our region – she pointed out.
She said it was “very unfortunate, very surprising.” Moreover, she assessed the circumstances of this meeting as “a very bad signal to the Kremlin when it comes to European unity.” – To be honest, I can't even explain it to myself, because it doesn't build anyone's safety. It's not that the Germans are better off than that, she added.
At the same time, the minister emphasized that she did not think that “the goal was a signal to Russia.” – But Russia is watching and seeing what is happening and sees that there is a conversation over the heads, behind Ukraine's back – she said.
“This is a project that the Council of Ministers is working on, but has not yet approved it”
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz was also asked about the draft act on registered partnerships prepared by the Ministry of Equality Katarzyna Kotula (Left), which appeared on the list on the website of the Government Legislation Center. A discussion broke out around the document as to whether it was governmental or not. PSL does not recognize it as such. He argues that intra-coalition negotiations are still ongoing and the People's Party members have not yet finally expressed their support for the proposed solutions.
PSL has long advocated, among other things, against the provisions on the adoption of children, which is not included in the project. However, the party is preparing a draft law on the status of the next of kin, which is intended to be a response to the law on civil partnerships.
The TVN24 guest explained that “the project (…) has been included in the government's work.” – What does this mean? This means that the government in such a long process (…) starts working on it, but a government project becomes a government project when Council of Ministers accepts it and then it is a project approved by the government. So today this is a project that the Council of Ministers is working on, but has not yet approved it, she specified.
On note that Polish People's Party raises reservations about the proposed regulations, Pełczyńska-Nałęcz replied that “it is also the procedure of government work that each minister can submit comments on projects that will be included in this government process.”
– The project is part of the government process and I understand that PSL ministers are protesting, they have the right to do so, because this is what work on projects looks like in the government in general, and in the coalition government in particular – she noted.
At the same time, she emphasized that Poland 2050 is in favor of civil partnerships. – We believe that there is really no reason why people should not have this sense of dignity in entering into the partnerships they want to have and which is satisfying for them. So for us it's absolutely fine. We know that many, many couples would like to live this way and need such a right. We are in favor of it, but at the same time, and here I am talking about procedures, the coalition party has the right to protest against projects that have entered the government's work mode. (…) And this is what PSL is currently doing – she continued.
She also assessed that “we need to look for a solution that will be acceptable to the entire coalition.” – Why do I think so? Because at the end of the day, it's about having an effect for people. If we talk here, everyone will have their own opinion, and in the end there will be no majority, people will not have these partnerships. So today we need to talk in coalition, respecting the sensitivity of all parties, so that in the end there will be a majority and these partnerships will be effective, she said.
Main photo source: TVN24