Polish PM: We do not accept being dictated to by largest EU countries

In an interview for the "Sieci" weekly, which will be published next week, fragments of which were published online on Sunday, the PM spoke about the EU pressuring Poland to accept immigrants.

"We cannot be blackmailed that we will lose part of our EU funds as punishment because we do not accept the compulsory relocation of immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East," she said.

"EU funds, cohesion policy are as much a pillar of the European Union as the freedom of movement of goods and services – we are simply entitled to them," she said. Thus "Poland is insisting on compliance with EU treaties and we do not accept being dictated to by the largest states," she said.

According to the PM, Poland has strong arguments on its side. "We want to be in the EU, we value it and that is why we have the right to press for respecting the rules, for a truly common market, for security, for development," she said.

She also said claims that her government wants to take Poland out of the EU are "the lie of all lies, a terrible manipulation".

Poland is locked in a row with the EU, and both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have recently criticised the Polish government. (mol/pk)

Source: PAP