Poland: there is no freedom without the rule of law

“What we have to do is fight for the interests of European citizens. Not divide them into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Europeans. Let’s discuss the future of our continent together. Let’s stick together. Let’s not divide anymore. This would be a great message to hear from a Polish Prime Minister”, said Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group, to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki today. MEPs debated the future of Europe this morning with Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

“More than 10 million people, a quarter of the whole population, fought in Solidarność together with the founder of a free and democratic Poland Lech Wałęsa not only for their freedom and democracy. Their great achievement - a sovereign, democratic Poland - is at stake today. Like Lech Wałęsa recently said: “In the 1980s, there was no freedom without solidarity, today there is no freedom without the rule of law."

"The rule of law is a fundamental principle of the European Union, even more so than any other European principle. It is deep in the very roots of Poland and in the hearts of the Polish people - Europe will not turn its back on the Polish people! If the Polish government does not preserve the great Polish people’s achievements, Europe will. You have talked about winning back sovereignty, but I ask you: is the anti-EU atmosphere in Warsaw when you are saying that Brussels is the new Moscow, really creating an atmosphere of sovereignty in Poland? In the Council, a lot of good initiatives are blocked because one single Member State votes against. Does this seem like an efficient Europe to you?“, Manfred Weber asked Prime Minister Morawiecki.

“You have talked about a Europe 4.0 which would listen to its citizens, but I am telling you: there is already a Europe of the people, this Europe already exists, it is this directly-elected Chamber, the European Parliament. We represent the citizens of Europe”, concluded Weber.