Opposition want head of foreign minister after 'federal Europe' speech

Radek Sikorski defends speech yesterday; photo - PAP/ Jakub Kaczmarczyk

“The foreign minister of our government made a kind of homage to Berlin without authorization, or consultation with the President,” says MP Andrzej Dera of the Solidarity Poland group of politicians which were expelled by the Law and Justice party last month.

In his speech on Monday in Berlin, Minister Sikorski supported calls for much closer economic integration in the EU, including greater supervisory powers over national budgets for the European Commission.

Sikorski called for Germany not to be passive in solving the crisis in the eurozone.

"I demand of Germany that, for your own sake and for ours, you help [the eurozone] survive and prosper. You know full well that nobody else can do it," he has said.

His critics claim he is calling for Poland and other nation states to give up more of their national sovereignty in a “federal EU” dominated by Germany.

"[The Polish government] wants to subordinate our country's sovereignty to EU institutions dominated by Germany,” Mariusz Blaszczak, who leads the Law and Justice party in parliament said after Sikorski's speech.

The opposition is also complaining that no indication was given by the government that this was their policy when Prime Minister Donald Tusk made his policy statement to parliament following Civic Platform's victory in October elections.

But Radek Sikorski defended his remarks yesterday.

“I am glad that finally we are having a discussion about the future of the EU. I hope that the opposition will present serious counter-proposals,” he said. (pg)