Viktor Orbán held a meeting with Morawiecki, and the aim was to deepen and widen the cooperation between the two party groups.
We want to give more weight to the member states and we are ready to cooperate with the Patriots for Europe party family - declared the presidential candidate of the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR), ex-Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, politician of Law and Justice (PiS) to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview on Thursday.
Morawiecki stated that he intends to continue the work of Giorgia Meloni, who announced her departure from the head of the ECR on Sunday, as the Italian Prime Minister and the president of the Italian Brothers (FdI) put the European party union on "solid foundations". He added that he will continue the path set by Meloni, but wants to proceed "creatively". He believed
Europe is constantly losing its competitiveness and identity, so the ECR will pursue a "new and ambitious" policy under his leadership.
Morawiecki emphasized that with his presidency, the ECR will strongly advocate for the sovereignty of nation states, as they cannot accept the further centralization of the European Union: "the union must remain a community of free nations, instead of a large bureaucracy."
Regarding relations with the other factions, Mateusz Morawiecki stated that he is ready to work with everyone who cares about the future of Europe, European competitiveness, and common values.
He called it crucial to create a majority that supports "good reforms" of the European Union.
"The ECR led by Meloni so far is in an excellent position, as we can hold a dialogue with the right wing represented by the Patriots, the sovereignists and the European People's Party. We have clear priorities and we will protect them," declared Morawiecki. Among others, he mentioned the green transition policy and stopping illegal migration.
The former Polish Prime Minister emphasized that he has an excellent relationship with Viktor Orbán and Santiago Abascal, the leader of Vox. The Spanish party joined this faction after leaving the ECR in the summer, after the formation of the Patriots for Europe.
Morawiecki said the only issue they don't share with the Patriots is the relationship with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine. "For us, this is a Rubik's puzzle that we cannot overcome. But we can cooperate on all other topics that connect us," he declared.
He noted that he shares the same principles with Donald Trump, the president-elect representing common sense, and therefore supports close cooperation between Europe and the United States.
When Giorgia Meloni resigned, she named Mateusz Morawiecki as her successor at the head of the ECR. The faction will make the final decision in January.
On Tuesday, Viktor Orbán held a meeting with Morawiecki, and the aim was to deepen and broaden the cooperation between the two party groups, which could later lead to a greater unity. The Hungarian Prime Minister spoke about this on Thursday, in Brussels, in response to the question of whether the Patriots for Europe party family could expand after Mateusz Morawiecki replaces Giorgia Meloni at the head of the ECR.
MTI
Cover photo: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (l) and former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki meeting in Brussels on December 18, 2024.
Source: MTI/Prime Minister's Press Office/Zoltán Fischer
