Poland has no enemies in the EU: Donald Tusk

The talks between Duda and Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, came in the wake of a barrage of criticism of Poland over controversial changes the new Law and Justice (PiS) government in Warsaw has introduced to the media and judiciary. PiS has denied claims that is undermining democracy in Poland.

“Poland’s interests and the interests of the EU are the same. Poland has no enemies in the EU,” Tusk told reporters after meeting Duda, who is carrying out his first foreign trip this year.

Duda said that "nothing extraordinary" was happening in Poland. "In Poland, there are disputes of an internal nature and I believe we will find understanding among our European partners," he added.

Duda hails from the conservative Law and Justice party, while Tusk is the former leader of the centrist Civic Platform, PiS's arch-rival.

Last week the European Commission announced a probe into whether controversial laws pushed through by PiS violate EU standards.

Meanwhile, Tusk said that he and Duda have similar views on a range of strategic priorities for the EU and on the dangers of Britain exiting the EU. “It’s in the interests of the EU and of Poland that Britain remains a member of the European Union,” Tusk said.

Duda was later on Monday to meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and top NATO commander General Philip Breedlove.

Duda's Brussels trip comes a day ahead of a European Parliament debate on developments in Poland, but a presidential aide has said that the two events are not connected. (pk)

Sources: onet.pl/wprost.pl/PAP