Polish PM holding talks in Netherlands

She is to have talks in The Hague with her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte on the future of the European Union and bilateral issues, including the situation of the Polish community in the Netherlands.

The Warsaw government is lobbying for a wider network of Polish language classes to be introduced in Dutch schools and to ensure better conditions for Polish entrepreneurs.

Szydło’s visit comes a month before parliamentary elections in the Netherlands which are likely to be of key significance for the country’s political future.

The leader of the Eurosceptic Freedom Party, Geert Wilders, has openly attacked Poles living in the Netherlands, calling them “thieves” and “drunkards”.

Polls show the Freedom Party could win the elections.

The future of the European Union was a key topic of talks between Szydło and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Warsaw on Tuesday.

Szydło said after meeting Merkel that the EU needs to change and national parliaments need a stronger role.

(mk/pk)