The Sejm will commence its three-day session at 10:00. The most important item on today's agenda is the Prime Minister's information regarding the resolutions of the agreement signed during the extraordinary European Council summit in Brussels from July 17th to 21st. In short, this concerns the EU budget. The debate on this matter, according to the schedule, will last until 12:30.

- Regarding the amount of financial means negotiated, it is certainly a success for Poland's delegation, with the Prime Minister. Of course, we still want to look at the structure of expenditure, what these financial means can be allocated to, because that also matters, but the amount is certainly record-breaking compared to previous agreements of former governments. However, concerning the issue of the rule of law, let me clarify that initially, the European Commission's project involved linking the disbursement of these billions of euros to the possibility of influencing the governments of individual states and forcing changes under the pretext of the rule of law in many areas, not only the judiciary, prosecution, law enforcement agencies, but also, for example, matters related to so-called homosexual marriages or issues related to broader access to abortion. This was very, very dangerous and led to a real, de facto change in the system and individual EU states in an extremely dangerous direction - stated Zbigniew Ziobro in "Sygnały dnia" on PR1.

- Therefore, on my initiative, the government adopted a resolution that obliged the Polish delegation not to agree to such solutions, and this position was adopted on Friday, before leaving for the summit, by the Council of Ministers. However, if you ask me about the details, I can say this: we are, of course, familiarizing ourselves with these provisions and, as Solidarna Polska, I can state our position that any linkage of funds to the issue of the rule of law is highly concerning to us, and in such a situation, we have always advocated, and nothing has changed here, that the best solution would be to apply the veto right and block this solution. However, we approach the categorical, firm announcements of the Prime Minister with good faith, who guarantees us, as a coalition member of the government, Solidarna Polska, but also PiS and all Poles, that he has negotiated a solution that guarantees that such a linkage will ultimately not happen and that there is a mechanism of so-called unanimity at the end of these potential steps, which we read about in the conclusions of the summit held in Brussels, guaranteeing that there is no threat to Poland. So, I am holding onto this assurance, trusting the Prime Minister's words. We will want to verify this further, because in any other case, such solutions would be incredibly dangerous for Poland - the Minister of Justice continued.

- The details are to be finalized within the government coalition, and such talks are already underway. I hope we will be able to intensively agree on all the priorities we want to implement as quickly as possible, and then we will be able to speak with conviction about the details and the timeline for introducing changes. The completion of the judicial reform is certainly one element of this plan, but this plan is broader, encompassing many other spheres of Poles' daily lives so that life is simply better, so that Poland is a safer country. I am speaking here particularly about the area for which I am responsible as Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, and I can say that we have a series of concrete draft laws ready, which, however, require consultation, agreement also with the president in the final stage, because we should guarantee that they are processed in parliament as safely as possible. Let's remember that it won't be easy in the Senate, where Civic Platform will apply the principle of obstruction, because the Marshal of the Senate is a Civic Platform representative, and we have already experienced this. Therefore, I think that step by step we will be able to use this parliamentary majority, which is emerging in the perspective of the next three years, for good changes in Poland – stated Zbigniew Ziobro in "Sygnały dnia" PR1.

„It was a success for Poland and Hungary. We secured the largest sums of support regarding the planned perspective. PLN 776 billion is incomparable to anything before, and at the same time, this absurd method, the attempt to link access to European funds with what is termed the rule of law, which is very imprecise, as very different things are thrown into this bag, will be specified in the area concerning legality and the method of spending money, but the final decision regarding these procedures will be made by the European Council” - said Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Gliński in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Radio Trójka. 

- There is reason to congratulate [Prime Minister Morawiecki]. Poland has indeed secured a very significant promise of funds from the EU for the coming years. The over PLN 700 billion that we are expected to receive offers a prospect that could be a second leap, a developmental one, for Poland, faster catching up with Western Europe, which we have dreamed of for years, and also a better life for millions of Polish women and men. So, if everything goes well and these funds are preserved, and Poland does not violate the rule of law, it may turn out that we have achieved a great deal for the development of the Republic of Poland – stated Krzysztof Gawkowski in TVP1's "Kwadrans polityczny" (Political Quarter of an Hour).

“The Prime Minister, the leader of United Right, will speak about consolidation once these decisions are made. At the core of these decisions is an attempt to build an even more efficient government structure, which will be more consolidated in terms of cooperation between ministries” – said Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Gliński on Polish Radio’s Trójka.

“We do not intend to get rid of anyone. Structural changes stem from various reasons, but please do not get too excited about this. After a series of elections in Poland, we have a situation that requires political stabilization, and I do not view this in any sensational terms” – he added. 

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- I have the first very good piece of news, a very good message for this high chamber and for our fellow countrymen. Poland is the biggest beneficiary of the cohesion fund. This is an amount of around 70 billion euros, and calculated at current prices, over different periods it will be a larger amount, but I am providing the lower figures already so that there are no doubts - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm.

“Our victory is not just a victory for Poland. It is also a victory for European solidarity, a victory for the continuation of the best years of the European Union, the years in which the European Union truly knew perfectly well that we are all in the same boat, to put it colloquially, that we must develop mechanisms that will push the entire European Union forward macroeconomically, microeconomically, and economically” – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm. 

- I believe the best evidence of Poland's success is the commentary from various Western media outlets, which I suspect are not only very well-known to the opposition but also serve as a kind of benchmark for Western opinion. For me, this is not a measure of our victory, because I remember what the opposition said during the negotiations for the previous budget perspective, claiming that such funds from cohesion policy would never reach Poland again. Yet, even larger funds have arrived, both from cohesion policy and other policies - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm.

- I remember when the opposition said this was the last good opportunity for Poland. Well, this opportunity, the next 7 years, is even much better for Poland than the previous ones. I don't know what cake you were dividing then, whether it was 300 or 400 billion, various numbers were mentioned, but it will probably be difficult for you to prove that 400 or 350 is more than 700 - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm.

“It turns out that a policy of tough negotiations, an assertive policy, rather than patting on the back, is the most effective policy, and within this policy, we have secured the largest funds within the EU” – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm. 

• The issue of so-called rule of law was also discussed. We know perfectly well that for over 2 years, a procedure was underway to introduce so-called conditionality, making access to funds dependent on the hypothetical fulfillment of rule of law conditions, which it was unclear who would determine and by what criteria. And we indeed opposed this. Moreover, not only with the Prime Minister of Hungary, but also very interesting were the voices from within the European Council from other prime ministers, including those who fundamentally stand on the other side in certain disputes. Indicating the vagueness of certain definitions. The very high risk of applying provisions in cases that do not have a defined legal status, and this negotiating capacity, coalition-building, and persuasion on the part of several of our states, especially the Visegrád Group, on the part of Hungary and Poland, resulted in a good solution. A solution within which the European Council, by unanimity – everyone knows this – must express its opinion on this matter, and when comparing the previous and current provisions, one only needs to compare how they looked before, the actual dependence on so-called rule of law, it was unclear who, on what basis, would determine it, and today's provisions, regarding which we also firmly confirm that we want funds to be spent honestly - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm.

"This is a good, or even very good, budget for Poland. It not only doesn't mean lost years, as the opposition claims. It means support for our economic model, a balanced economic model, and it means that the chance for a golden decade, for very good years ahead, is significantly higher, as these funds will support infrastructure development across Poland, equalize subsidies for farmers to the EU average, but also support those processes that are very important to us – Poland as a modern country that benefits from the innovations of others, but also develops its own innovations" - said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the Sejm.

- We are happy about every euro that comes to Poland, but this success you are announcing is largely a success on credit, because a large part of this money is not only grants, but also loans that will have to be repaid someday - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in the Sejm.

- However, this union isn't so bad. And this is a positive change we're noticing in your camp, because if EU money isn't bad, then the EU itself isn't so bad. This is a denial of at least some of the nonsense that some of you have been spouting - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in the Sejm.

- We didn't hear specifics today on how these funds will be spent. You haven't confirmed the announcement of equalizing direct agricultural subsidies to French and German levels, and that was your promise from 5 years ago. How much will go to the regions and who will be spending this money? I hope it won't be spent solely in a centralized manner, but that local governments will have a decisive influence on the expenditure of these funds, not through the lens of a given village head's or mayor's party affiliation, but based on the social needs of the given region - he continued.

- The conclusion is that you have, at this summit, with the hurrah optimism of Polish right-wing voters who have tied their hopes to PiS, implemented a federal scenario, a scenario that the Left and Civic Platform have always supported. A scenario for centralizing the EU. New mechanisms have been created, which have never existed before in the history of Europe and which have always been controversial – stated Krzysztof Bosak in the Sejm.

„You disagreed with part of your political camp on what they were trying to convince you of, namely vetoing the summit's conclusions and findings. I am glad that for the first time, provisions such as those concerning the rule of law have appeared in this document. Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, the law must be respected” - said the Civic Platform leader, Borys Budka, in the Sejm.

“Our partners in the EU know perfectly well that there are countries where one can strike the deal of a lifetime on masks in a single day. I am talking about a colleague of a colleague of yours from the government. I am talking about the way your government bought respirators, how it was done with an abuse of the law. One thing worries me. Mr. Prime Minister, if you are happy that the law is not to be observed in Poland, then I am ashamed of such a Prime Minister” - said the Civic Platform leader Borys Budka in the Sejm.

“I think colleagues from Confederation will talk more about this. You agreed to give up part of our sovereignty. National programs will be approved by other governments, and by a qualified majority, meaning you agreed that regardless of what 3-year programs your government comes up with, they will still be approved at the level of prime ministers, not the European Commission. You gave up part of our sovereignty for the sake of PR and pretending to have some success” – said PO chairman Borys Budka in the Sejm.

„This summit was not a success for your government, but fortunately a great success for European solidarity. You have finally understood that European solidarity means cooperation. You will speak to your voters about tough negotiations, but we want concrete numbers. For now, there are no such numbers, because you know perfectly well that there is no budget” - said the Civic Platform chairman, Borys Budka, in the Sejm.

- Currently, I don't see any examples in the European sphere, because I understand that's what we're discussing, examples indicating that any EU member state is violating the rule of law. However, to be honest, I also don't see cases of the slogan of the rule of law being effectively, instrumentally, or ideologically wielded - stated Jarosław Gowin on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach" (Facts After Facts).

„The Civic Platform is a value in itself. It is a party that must be the foundation for everything that can or should emerge in the coming weeks or months. If we talk about a civic movement, the involvement of everyone who voted for Rafał Trzaskowski, and who distance themselves from political parties or politics in general, they should find an opportunity for public activity” - said Grzegorz Schetyna of Civic Coalition in an interview with Dorota Gawryluk in “Gość Wydarzeń” on Polsat News. 

- It was an indisputable success for Mateusz Morawiecki, a success for Poland, but also a success for a united Europe, demonstrating the sense of the European integration process. However, it's not that I dismiss Minister Ziobro's doubts. He may be a bit overly cautious, but I reiterate, we have dealt with situations in the past where the risk of the rule of law principle being instrumentalized was real - stated Jarosław Gowin on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach" (Facts After Facts).

„Perhaps you should establish a line of defense for Sławomir Nowak amongst yourselves in Civic Platform, because just a day or two ago, MP Barbara Nowacka claimed it was repercussions for his involvement in Rafał Trzaskowski's campaign and that it might be linked to the outcome. If we are to go down that path, then it is likely revenge for Rafał Trzaskowski's loss. Who is interested in punishing the guilty? Probably the PO leadership. If we are to delve into absurdities, then by all means, let's go all out” - said Deputy Spokesperson of PiS, Radosław Fogiel, in an interview with Danuta Holecka on „Gość Wiadomości” on TVP Info.