Poland backs Draghi's push for increased EU budget support

Poland has expressed support for Mario Draghi's proposal to increase the European budget, as stated by Deputy Minister of Development and Technology Ignacy Niemczycki in an interview with PAP. Niemczycki highlighted the importance of addressing the economic challenges facing Europe, particularly in light of high energy prices affecting competitiveness across the continent. He emphasized that these issues are not unique to Poland but are shared by many European nations. During an upcoming meeting of EU competitiveness ministers in Brussels, Niemczycki will discuss Draghi's report on the future of the European economy. He believes that the timing is crucial, as there is a growing recognition of the potential difficulties ahead for the European economy. The deputy minister praised Draghi for acknowledging the challenges posed by expensive energy and warned against the risks of deindustrialization due to current decarbonization efforts. While Niemczycki supported the idea of mobilizing private funds similar to the approach taken in the United States, he refrained from endorsing the concept of joint debt at this time. He argued that any changes to the EU budget structure must ensure that all regions benefit, as neglecting this could threaten democratic values. Niemczycki also pointed out that the report failed to recognize the role of cohesion policy in fostering economic growth in Poland and other regions over the past two decades. He concluded that more focus should be placed on removing barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises and enhancing the internal market, particularly in services, to address longstanding issues.