Reparations from Germany. The president asked about Tusk's words: I do not agree

On Tuesday, the first intergovernmental consultations between Poland and the EU since 2018 were held at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Germanswidely seen as a new beginning in their relations. At 8 a.m., the Chancellor was officially welcomed, followed by a bilateral meeting with Tusk. Then, the delegations of both countries met, and then the plenary session began.

On that day the president Andrzej Duda was asked about the Prime Minister's words from the conference with Scholz that “the waiver of reparations forced by history does not change the fact how many tragic losses in people, property and territories Poland suffered as a result of the German attack”.

– I do not share the position that Polish authorities, be it communist authorities or any other authorities, have ever effectively waived the right to claims and compensation for the wrongs we suffered during World War II – said Andrzej Duda.

He stressed that he “does not believe that the resignation or waiver of claims was made legally effective”. – If the prime minister agrees with the German position that there was some kind of waiver, then I will say this: I do not agree – stated the president.

He also stressed that Poland has been waiting “for a long time” for an adequate and dignified commemoration of the victims of the war.

As part of the consultations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski met with the head of German diplomacy Annalena Baerbock. As the MFA reported on social media, the conversation concerned, among other things, a gesture of compensation to Poland for the damage and losses caused by German aggression and occupation, the need for further support Ukraine and the summit FOR THIS.

In a statement, the ministry said that, according to the head of Polish diplomacy, the return to regular meetings of governments and the additional establishment of a new mechanism for joint meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs and defence symbolize a new opening in relations and the intention of broad cooperation between Warsaw and Berlin.

As reported by the MFA, Tuesday's meeting was aimed at discussing new initiatives in Polish-German and European relations, as well as planning further meetings. The delegations also discussed new proposals from the German government related to common history and challenges highlighted by the Polish community in Germany.

During the talks, the ministers also touched on the subject of Russian aggression against Ukraine. “Radosław Sikorski and Annalena Baerbock discussed the need for further political and military support for Kiev, as well as the post-war reconstruction of that country. They also exchanged opinions on possible support for Ukraine's European aspirations,” it was written.

It was pointed out that the interlocutors agreed that an important instrument of pressure on Russia there are European possibilities for expanding sanctions regimes and making enforcement more effective.

As reported by the ministry, the heads of Polish and German diplomacy also discussed security and defense policy, in particular preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. “The ministers agreed that in a number of issues important for the future of the EU, as well as for European security, there is room for action in the Weimar Triangle format,” it was noted.

It was reported that as part of the intergovernmental consultations, separate talks were held by the newly appointed plenipotentiary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland for Polish-German social and cross-border cooperation, Professor Krzysztof Ruchniewicz, and his German counterpart, MP Dietmar Nietan, coordinator for German-Polish inter-social and cross-border cooperation.