Polish president proposes stricter financial aid criteria for foreigners
President Karol Nawrocki has submitted a bill to the lower house aimed at limiting financial assistance for foreign citizens living in Poland, Nawrocki's aide announced on Monday evening.
The bill follows Nawrocki's veto of the amendment that sought to extend financial assistance for Ukrainian citizens living in Poland. Nawrocki justified his decision by citing the lack of any adjustment to the law that prevents Ukrainians who are not currently employed in Poland from receiving the PLN 800 (EUR 188) child benefit.
According to Zbigniew Bogucki, the presidential draft law stipulates that access to state benefits and public healthcare will be limited solely to individuals who are actively employed and paying contributions within Poland.
Furthermore, the presidential initiative proposes a substantial prolongation of the process for obtaining Polish citizenship. Under the new proposals, the existing three-year waiting period would be lengthened to ten years.
In an effort to bolster border security, the bill also aims to increase the maximum penalty for illegal border crossings. If this measure is enacted, individuals convicted of this offence could face up to five years in prison.
The amendment to the law on aid for Ukrainian citizens, which Nawrocki blocked, was proposed in light of the ongoing armed conflict in that country. It envisaged extending the temporary protection granted to Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war until March 4, 2026. It also clarified the conditions for receiving the '800 Plus' benefit so that it would also be paid to children who completed secondary school before turning 18 and who continue their studies at a university or in vocational training programmes. The amendment did not impose the restrictions on benefit eligibility that were suggested by the previous government, which is why Nawrocki opposed it. Without the president's signature, the bill will not come into force.(PAP)
aj/jch
