In Strasbourg, during the second day of the September plenary session of the European Parliament, cohesion policy was discussed. PiS MEP Waldemar Buda spoke on behalf of the ECR Group.
“There should be a huge black coffin standing before us here,” said Waldemar Buda, referring to the budget proposals for the next financial framework, in which funding for cohesion policy is set to be cut by 50 percent. He noted that this disastrous budget was drafted by Polish Commissioner Piotr Serafin. “We cannot agree to a budget that undermines cohesion policy and the regions,” the Polish politician urged. He also emphasized that EU funds should be managed responsibly and with integrity. In this context, he reported on cases of embezzlement of funds from the National Reconstruction Fund in Poland, including for yachts, techno music on a balcony, and other controversial projects.
The PiS MEP called on the Commissioner to examine how European funds are being spent in Poland. The former Deputy Minister of Funds and Regional Policy also recalled that when he was responsible for the disbursement of European funds, Poland achieved its highest-ever fund absorption rate—that is, the percentage of available funds utilized.
“Today in Poland, over a hundred yachts have been purchased with funds from the National Reconstruction Plan (KPO). This is a scandal, and it cannot be allowed to happen in cohesion policy,” the MEP warned.
