Donald Tusk, Poland’s EU-aligned Prime Minister, has been accused of “silently consenting” to three new taxes set to be imposed on his country by Brussels.
And Mateusz Morawiecki, Mr Tusk’s predecessor as their country’s leader, warned the levies would hit Poles in the pocket, while questioning the former European Council President’s “willingness” accept them.
Law and Justice (PiS) Vice President Mr Morawiecki appeared today at a press conference organised by the European Group of Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), with whom the party’s MEPs sit.
The European Union wants to impose three taxes on EU Member States, taxing the revenue from emissions trading (ETS), resources generated by the proposed EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and corporate profits.
Mr Morawiecki’s Government, ousted after October’s general election, had previously pledged to block the plans.
However, Mr Tusk has made no such commitment.
Mr Morawiecki said: “The new Polish government has agreed to the three new EU taxes.
”Tusk’s willingness to accept these new EU taxes will be very costly for Poles.
“Money that should be going to the Polish state budget will now be transferred to Europe. This is clearly detrimental to Poland and detrimental for Poland.”
Speaking afterwards PiS Chairman Mariusz Błaszczak said: “In Poland, Tusk’s government – in destroying the rule of law – is providing cover for very dangerous processes concerning Poland’s future to take place which Donald Tusk and his coalition consent; namely, new EU taxes.
“These three new taxes will fill EU coffers at the expense of Member States, at Poland’s expense.”
He added: “Further, these taxes will result in Poland being disproportionately burdened when compared to wealthy western European countries.”
There would be a clear cost to Poles and Poland due to these new taxes being levied both in having to pay extra and in less tax revenue going to Poland’s state treasury, Mr Błaszczak claimed.
He said: “Donald Tusk’s government has silently consented to this and there is media silence on this matter.
“We will ask Donald Tusk in the next session of parliament: why was PiS’ veto against these taxes withdrawn and what will be the costs of these taxes for ordinary citizens, for the state budget?”
Speaking after he was confirmed at PM last month, Mr Tusk highlighted judicial reforms as his top priority.
He said: “Here I am, speaking about the special role of law and the rule of law.
“There is truly nothing more important to a modern nation than a set of rights and obligations recognised as common, without exception.”
He subsquently hit the headlines after taking TVP, the state broadcaster, off the air, triggering angry protests across the country.
