Minister denies overspending on EU promo
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
25.04.2014 11:01
Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski has rejected accusations that the government overspent on a one-minute promotional film marking Poland's first ten years in the EU.
Bogdan Zdrojewski. Photo: Polish Radio
The short film was produced at a cost of 922,000 zloty (219,365 euros), and it presents an upbeat look at the transformation in Poland since the fall of communism.
“This is not a high cost,” Zdrojewski claimed in an interview with Polish Radio on Friday.
About a third of the sum went on acquiring the rights to use Beatles hit 'Hey Jude', with a recent live recording by Paul McCartney providing the soundtrack to the film.
“The rights to use songs by the Beatles or Paul McCartney are usually very high, so the fact that we were able to get them at that price is really a good result,” Zdrojewski said.
Chief opposition party Law and Justice had complained that Prime Minister Donald Tusk's party Civic Platform had used the promotional video as part of the campaign for the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament (25 May). Poland became a member of the EU on 1 May 2004. (nh)