Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki criticized Germany’s energy policy in Paris on Monday – dependent for years on the “cheap gasoline from russia”- and French business policy, for having opted for the Russian market.
Invited to a meeting of businessmen organized by the French employers, Morawiecki warned that “European prosperity and security”are at risk because of “addictionof Russian gas, whose distribution is not guaranteed this winter due to retaliation by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The head of the Polish government, who has had several clashes with Berlin and Paris in recent months, delivered a conciliatory speech with the European project, although he did not refrain from criticizing some political and business options of the two powers of the European Union ( EU ).
“For a long time, Cheap Russian gas was the most important value for many countries — not for France, but for several of our neighbors. The real price of gas is the sword that hangs over Ukraine”, defended the leader of the ultra-nationalist Law and Justice party.
Morawiecki, whose country maintains a firm opposition to Russia also for historical reasons, then took the opportunity to attack German energy policy: “If Germany had gone ahead with what Germany wanted, the [gasoduto] Nordstream 1, and even 2 (from Russia), would already be installed and [Berlim] thewould still have shut down its nuclear power plants“.
This dependence on Russian gas that Putin uses “as blackmail” with the EU, he continued, is also “business concern“.
“It is becoming more and more evident that the axis of business expansion of French companies in recent years has not met expectations,” said the Polish leader, leaving a veiled criticism of the large investments made by French multinationals in Russian territory.
“Calling an addiction is always painful,” he added, “but if we want freedom, security and prosperity, we have to end our dependence on Russia.”
At the same business meeting, held in Paris, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, intervened via videoconference.
The Ukrainian head of state, who for months had some friction with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, for the way he tried to mediate tensions with Russia, invited French companies to participate in the reconstruction of his country, referring to sectors such as construction, energy, infrastructure and food.
“Ukraine is the guarantor of Europe’s food security,” Zelensky stressed.
According to Ukrainian government calculations, reconstruction will cost about 750 billion dollars (749,000 million euros), although Zelensky did not want to confirm these figures.
Finally, the Ukrainian president described the invasion launched by Russia in Ukraine just over six months ago as “a colonial war” to seize its resources, which are “essential for the world economy“.
UN leader says Ukraine’s reconstruction “is a long road” that must start now
He also warned of the risk of “war fatigue”, which could cause Western countries to pay less attention to the conflict, although it is not slowing down, while “Russia devotes many resources to spreading its narrative”.
Before speaking at the meeting of the French employers, the Polish prime minister met with Macron at the Elysee Palace. The atmosphere between them was cordial, perhaps even warm at times, despite the mutual exchange of accusations last spring.
Morawiecki had told the French head of state that it was useless to talk to Putin about the war in Ukraine, while Macron responded by accusing him of trying to meddle in the French presidential elections that were underway at the time (between the first and second) . round).
Angry that Morawiecki had welcomed his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen, Macron even called the head of the Polish government “far-right antisemite that excludes LGBT people (lesbians, “gays”, bisexuals and transsexuals)”. As a result, the Polish executive summoned the French ambassador to Warsaw.
On this day, Macron and Morawiecki agreed on several issues, such as the reform of the EU electricity market or the war in Ukraine. However, the conservative Polish Prime Minister took advantage of his speech to make one last criticism.
“I read in an article that there are two countries affected by sanctions. Poland has taken in millions of Ukrainian refugees and, despite this, is subject to more painful sanctions than those imposed on Russia,” he said, referring to the fines imposed by the EU, most of them motivated by the lack of independence from Russia. . power of attorney
Source: Observadora
