Polish PM in Paris for strategic talks
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
03.02.2016 18:38
Prime Minister Poland Beata Szydło is discussing the prospective consolidation of NATO's eastern flank on Wednesday during talks in Paris with President of Paris Francois Hollande.
Prime Minister of Poland departs for Paris. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The talks come in the lead-up to Warsaw's hosting of a NATO summit this July.
With the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine, Poland is pushing for a commitment at the summit to beef up NATO's eastern flank, with hopes that a permanent base will be created on Polish soil.
Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymański said on Wednesday that besides “the strategic adaptation of NATO in the east”, other topics up for discussion are the immigration crisis and a potential EU-UK deal regarding a renegotiation of Britain's EU membership.
With Poland seeking to diversify its energy portfolio, nuclear power is also up for discussion. Poland has been considering creating a nuclear power station in recent years, although no final location has been picked.
“France is one of the key countries active in the nuclear industry,” Szymański said.
“Poland is interested in developing the nuclear sector, so this matter will probably come up in the talks.”
Meanwhile, a question mark remains regarding the potential commission of French-based multinational Airbus Group to manufacture helicopters for Poland. (nh)