Poland must do all it takes to unblock EU funds, says Tusk

Tusk, who is likely to become Poland's next prime minister after a group of pro-European Union parties secured a majority in an Oct. 15 election, is aiming to gain access to billions of euros the EU put on hold due to concerns about judicial independence under the previous nationalist government.

"I am here as the leader of the opposition, not as the prime minister, but time is passing," he told a televised news conference. "I had to take this initiative before final decisions were made, because all methods, including non-standard ones, had to be used to save the money that Poland deserves."

At stake is Poland's access to 35.4 billion euros ($37.41 billion) in grants and loans from the EU's recovery fund.

EU concerns over the Polish judicial reforms are also blocking Warsaw's access to 76.5 billion euros of 'cohesion funds', which are meant to raise the standard of living in poorer regions of Europe.

Poles are waiting to see whom President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the outgoing Law and Justice (PiS) administration, will task with forming a government.

'CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC'

PiS came first in the election but is unlikely to find a partner with enough seats to form a coalition government. However, Duda has said previously that the largest single party would get the first attempt.

Tusk and a delegation from his Civic Coalition (KO) grouping met Duda on Tuesday.

"After meeting President Duda, I have reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Tusk told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday. "Everything indicates that cooperation should be as harmonious as possible."

"He assured us that he would respect the election results, that if it was confirmed that the opposition had a majority, he would not hesitate and would give it the mission of forming a government."

The leaders of the three groupings intent on forming the next administration have all ruled out working with PiS and have urged Duda not to delay in giving Tusk the job of forming a government.