During a speech to mark Poland’s 20th anniversary as a member of the European Union, President Andrzej Duda pointed out that Prime Minister Donald Tusk had declined his invitation to join the celebration.
Addressing the nation from the Presidential Palace, Duda reflected on two decades of substantial change and growth within Poland since joining the EU. However, he also expressed regret that Prime Minister Donald Tusk did not accept his invitation to appear with him at the event, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of national and European challenges.
“I wanted to stand before you today with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. I invited him, unfortunately, he did not accept my invitation, but I believe that we will successfully develop our policy of further participation in the EU together,” the president remarked.
Tusk had already announced several days ago that he would not accept the president’s invitation due to illness, but on Tuesday he made a public appearance and spoke with the media.
President Duda highlighted the transformative journey Poland has undertaken in the last 20 years, including freedom of movement and enhanced job opportunities, which have broadened Polish citizens’ world views and international possibilities. “We look today from the perspective of 20 years of our presence in the EU and can definitely say one thing — it has been and is a very good time for Poland,” Duda stated.
He emphasized the critical importance of energy transformation for both environmental sustainability and economic growth. “This transformation is not only vital for global ecological balance but also crucial for the Polish economy,” said the Polish president, noting that “in this context, major investments are crucial, specifically the construction of nuclear power plants.”
Duda said that thanks to a sensible investment policy and the achievement of strategic infrastructure goals, Poland has the potential to become a leading economic and commercial hub.
“We are an ambitious nation; our country possesses an immense scale of developmental opportunities, and these opportunities also lie within us. We should undertake major investments today, such as the construction of the Central Communication Port (CPK), a gateway to the world, which will further expand our abilities to communicate globally, travel, and contribute to the development of transportation in Poland and trade, making us a sort of economic hub,” he assessed.
Duda also pointed out the upcoming Polish presidency of the EU Council starting in early 2025 and expressed pride in the significant role Poland plays in the absorption of EU funds, which have fueled numerous domestic investments.
He concluded his speech by discussing major national and international goals, including support for EU accession for Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkan countries, and emphasized the importance of collective efforts in rebuilding Ukraine and promoting energy transformation initiatives.
