PM proud of Poland's GDP growth

PM Tusk (left) Jerzy Buzek and Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels today; photo - PAP

“I am proud of Poland’s GDP growth and I have always stressed that European funds are one of the main sources of growth, not only in Poland in fact. There can be no serious growth without a clever use of EU funds and budgets,” Mr Tusk said today.

Donald Tusk, who faces a general election in Poland on 9 October, was responding to the latest report by Poland’s Central Office of Statistics (GUS) which finds GDP in the second quarter grew by 4.3 percent year-on-year, placing Poland among the five EU members with the highest economic growth.

Only Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Sweden recorded a faster rate of growth.

Prime Minister Tusk is in Brussels today for talks on the finance crisis in many of the 17 eurozone nations.

Though as yet not part of the eurozone, Poland’s prime minister told a press conference, held together with Jose Manuel Barroso this morning, that the strengthening of EU institutions and increased integration is the only way to overcome the financial crisis.

A frugal and rational use of European funds, particularly for direct investments, is the best remedy for economic stagnation, he said, adding that Poland, which currently holds the EU presidency until the end of the year, fully supports the moves which are to enhance economic integration within the euro zone.

Donald Tusk will also be attending an opening ceremony of Solidarity Square in Brussels, in recognition of the historic trade union that brought down communism in Poland in the 1980s. (mk/pg)