– What Russia is doing is an element of the hybrid war. Because 80 percent of the price of fertilizers is the price of gas – said the Minister of State Asset in “Facts after Facts” on TVN24 Jakub Jaworowski.
MAP head Jakub Jaworowski, when asked on Tuesday in the “Facts after facts” program about the growing import of fertilizers with Russia to Poland, he reported that European Commission He is to soon announce a plan to introduce customs duties.
– Customs policy is at the European Union (European Union – ed.). However, we lobbyed very strongly here, I also had my active participation in that European Union She applied duties on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus – said the guest “Facts after Facts”.
Proposal of the European Commission
On the same evening, the European Commission accepted the application to impose duties on a number of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, as well as some nitrogen fertilizers. It is about the remaining 15 percent agricultural products imported from Russia, which have not yet been covered by elevated tariffs.
The application of the European Commission must now be considered by European Parliament and adopted by the Member States by a qualified majority. In practice, this means that 15 out of 27 EU countries representing 60 percent must agree to the higher duties. residents of the community. However, this decision does not require unanimity and cannot be blocked by one Member State.
The adoption of the conclusion by the Member States will mean that the entire import of agricultural products from Russia will be covered by EU customs.
According to GUS dataafter seven months of 2024, the import of fertilizers from Russia to Poland amounted to over 721.5 thousand tons, while in a similar period of last year it was over 246.7 thousand tons. The import of fertilizers from Belarus at that time exceeded 185.5 thousand tons. A year earlier it was over 13.4 thousand tons.
The Ministry of State Asset has previously asked the Minister of Development and Technology (MRIT) to coordinate activities and consider applying to the General Directorate for Trade in the European Commission (DG Trade) in order to establish duties on the import of fertilizers from Russia and Belarus at 30 percent .
Grupa Azoty's troubles
Jakub Jaworowski said on TVN24 that the low prices of Russian and Belarusian fertilizers were one of the causes of the problems of the Azoty Group controlled by the state. – Azoty fell into what English is called Perfect Storm. In principle, everything was on the nitrogen on all fronts. Together with the import of Russian fertilizers and incompetent decisions of its predecessors – said TVN24 guest.
Grupa Azoty is currently implementing a recovery program due to a difficult financial situation. He alerts that he has been struggling with the growing import of competitive fertilizers from Russia and Belarus for months.
– Now the Management Board is working on a transformation plan, in which I am cheering very much, and there is a plan. This is a difficult plan, but it is absolutely a situation to save – said Jaworowski.
When asked if the plan is associated with the layoffs and selling some of the group's assets, he replied that “there will be decisions, but let's not overtake facts yet, because it is all before us”. – This is a complicated process of preparing this restructuring – said the head of the map.
The TVN24 guest assured that decisions in this area are not delayed due to the upcoming presidential election. – There is nothing to delay here. The board works so efficiently that this improvement can be seen in the results for the last two quarters. Because there are savings and the company slowly improves its situation – he said.
Orlen results. The head of the maps comments on
Jaworowski was also asked about the results of state -owned companies and comments from representatives PISthat they are worse than during the previous power. – The results are first varied. And secondly, the results in the last quarters are the result of the actions of previous boards, and not those present – said the head of the map.
In November, Orlen said that the group's net profit in nine months reached PLN 3 billion and was lower by PLN 17 billion year -on -year. – This is a bit of magic of accounting – commented Jakub Jaworowski.
As he explained, “there are really three reasons for why this result is lower.” First of all, according to the minister, the cost of the copy, i.e. the freezing in the loss of freezing energy priceswhich in the case of Orlen amounted to PLN 15 billion. Secondly, it is a matter of copies of unsuccessful investments of its predecessors. – The third thing is macroeconomic factors. The situation deteriorated for the refining industry and how much in 2023 the refinery margin was $ 22 per barrel, so last year it was less than 8. So it fell almost three times – said the head of the Ministry of State Asset.
Changes in PZU. “Step in the right direction”
The minister was also asked on TVN24 about the dismissal of PZU President Artur Olech. The company's supervisory board decided on Monday. Olech managed the largest Polish insurance group from March 2024 as PO president. In July 2024, he got the consent of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority to take over the presidency.
– I am full of consent with the decision of the supervisory board – said Minister Jakub Jaworowski on Tuesday.
– What happened in PZU is full of my support. I think it's a step in the right direction – said the head of the map.
The PZU Group is the largest financial institution in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. He manages about PLN 300 billion of assets and provides services to approx. 22 million clients in five countries. The State Treasury has about 34.2 percent in PZU action.
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Source of the main photo: Tvn24