Brussels, 15 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) - New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have pledged close cooperation to overcome years of democratic backsliding under Warsaw's recently ousted nationalist government.

"We will need to make up for lost time," von der Leyen said at a joint appearance in Brussels on Friday.

She announced the transfer by the year's end of an initial €5 billion ($5.5 billion) in suspended EU funding to help Poland's energy transition and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"For far too long, concerns about the rule of law have hampered our capacity to help Poland modernize its economy," the head of the EU's executive said.

Speaking in Polish, Tusk emphasised that there must be - and is - mutual trust going forward, and noted his strong personal working ties with von der Leyen.

"Anyone who knows the reality knows that Poland has not had a partner as loyal as von der Leyen for a long time," said Tusk, who served as European Council president from 2014 to 2019. "Thank you for everything you have done."

The 66-year-old was appointed prime minister this week after his centrist coalition broke the eight-year grip on power of the Law and Justice (PiS) party in elections in October.

Since 2015, PiS had fought bitter battles with the European Union over democratic rights, particularly in relation to the impartiality of the Polish judicial system.

At the start of the joint statement, von der Leyen said that times were still difficult, but that Tusk's personal commitment and his European experience are invaluable to the European family.

Poland would now endeavour to become a member of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, Tusk said, adding that this showed how seriously his government was taking rule of law issues.

Photo: EBS