What goes in Poland on 30th of May.
Three Seas Initiative is Andrzej Duda’s priority
The Polish Foreign Ministry said it was considering inviting President Donald Trump to the upcoming Three Seas Initiative Summit. During the GLOBSEC 2017 conference, President Andrzej Duda talked about Central Europe’s role in ensuring global security, including NATO’s eastern flank and cooperation within the Three Seas Initiative. He also ensured the Initiative was a priority for his presidency.
The President also pointed out that the Initiative was created as an informal platform of cooperation between Poland, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Austria.
He also added his priority was to build infrastructural and economic cohesion on the north-south axis. This should maximize the positive effects of our EU membership by complementing the east-west relations.
Germans about Polish transport companies
In January 2015 the German government has suspended the enforcement of road transport regulations for Polish and other foreign companies. The rules will not be implemented until the issue is solved by the European Commission. The Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung daily published a legal analysis, which said that the German minimum wage legislation was applicable to foreign, including Polish, truck drivers who cross Germany. The daily wrote that the introduction of minimum wage for foreign truck drivers is in line with EU treaties.
According to FAZ, the expertise will strengthen the position of Germany’s government, which for the past two years has been in a legal dispute with the EC. Brussels believes that the German minimum wage law cannot be applicable to drivers employed by Polish companies, who only drive across Germany’s territory.
Morawiecki Plan implementation
On the government’s Tuesday meeting, which will start at 12, the ministers will listen to Mateusz Morawiecki’s report on the implementation of the Responsible Development Plan.
The government will also consider the amendments to the PIT and CIT act. According to the new projects, companies will be able to write off investments costs of up to PLN 100 thousand once a year.
Three new tax bills
The government is also planning to prepare three new bills: on taxing companies, on taxing salaries, pensions, etc., and on capital gains. These will replace the current PIT regulations.
Paweł Gruza, Vice-Minister of Finance, announced the changes in a letter to Jerzy Meysztowicz, chairman of the Sejm’s Economy and Development Committee.
G7 against Russia
Recognition of the rights of migrants and refugees, as well as states’ rights to control their borders, a call for Russia to implement its commitments regarding Ukraine, and an appeal to the USA for more time to consider the climate deal, were the main points of today’s Communique issued after the G7 summit. The declaration of leaders of the USA, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Japan and Canada has 39 points.
The G7 leaders agreed states „share a responsibility in managing the flows; in protecting refugees and migrants, and safeguarding the most vulnerable of them, such as women at risk, adolescents, children and unaccompanied minors; and in enforcing border control, establishing returns schemes and enhancing law enforcement cooperation.”
According to them, these steps are necessary to reduce „illegal migration and to fight migrant smuggling, human trafficking and exploitation, and all forms of slavery, including modern slavery.”
Earlier, the European Commission threatened it would open infringement procedures if Poland, Hungary and Austria will not start relocating refugees by June. The Polish Prime Minister, Beata Szydło stated she would not budge. „The Polish government will not accept forced refugee quotas,” she stressed.
During a press conference, Szydło explained that „there is no possibility of accepting refugees. This is the government’s position.”
One of the last points of the Communique talked about the differences regarding the Paris Climate Agreement, which appeared during the summit debates.
„The United States of America is in the process of reviewing its policies on climate change and on the Paris Agreement and thus is not in a position to join the consensus on these topics,” said the document. „Understanding this process, the Heads of State and of Government of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom and the Presidents of the European Council and of the European Commission reaffirm their strong commitment to swiftly implement the Paris Agreement,” stated the signatories.
Donald Trump has already tweeted that he would make his decision on the agreement that limits greenhouse gas emissions next week.
The G7 participants also stated that the Ukrainian crisis can only be solved when all sides will implement the Minsk Agreements commitments. The leaders also reminded that the „duration of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s complete implementation of its commitments in the Minsk Agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.”
