Nawrocki receives assurance of government's disapproval of Mercosur deal
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has informed President Karol Nawrocki of the government's dissent on the EU-Mercosur trade deal, the head of the President's Office has said.
"Mr. President is satisfied with this matter and the declaration which he had received from the prime minister," Zbigniew Bogucki said on Wednesday.
He said that Nawrocki plans to speak with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about efforts to build a coalition of states that could block the deal in the EU Council — a move requiring the support of three countries. Furthermore, Nawrocki expects the government to provide "specific documents" on the influx of Ukrainian agri-products so that the state can respond appropriately, Bogucki added.
During the Wednesday cabinet meeting with the president, Tusk said Warsaw is establishing a mechanism which would allow it to partially block the possible threatening outcomes of the deal or correct them.
Mercosur, also known as the Southern Common Market, is a South American trade bloc. It was established in 1991 but failed to be ratified after two decades of negotiations. The agreement between the South American states and the EU aims to create a free trade zone between the two regions.
Poland is among the group of countries opposed to the deal, including France, the Netherlands and Ireland, arguing it would affect the domestic agricultural sector and lower the prices of domestically produced farm products.
On Wednesday, the foreign ministry wrote on X that "Poland will vote against the Mercosur deal," echoing the statements of the high-profile Polish politicians.(PAP)
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