Two-speed Europe a recipe for disaster: Polish FM

In an interview with a group of newspapers including Italian daily La Repubblica, Waszczykowski said enhanced regional cooperation is a normal, natural phenomenon.

But he added that this should not be allowed to lead to the “hegemony” of a group of states that impose their will on the rest of Europe.

EU leaders are due to meet without British Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday in the Italian capital to mark the 60th anniversary of the bloc's founding Treaty of Rome.

The summit is to issue a Rome Declaration, laying out a vision of the EU’s future after Britain leaves the bloc.

At a meeting at the palace of Versailles earlier this month, the leaders of Germany, France, Italy and Spain spoke out in favour of a multi-speed Europe after Britain’s divorce from the EU.

Polish President Andrzej Duda discussed proposals for Poland’s input to the Rome Declaration at a meeting with Prime Minister Beata Szydło on Tuesday evening.

The president’s office said in a statement: "The president wants Poland to be an active and positive co-author of a compromise document addressing the main challenges facing the EU."

The office added: "For the president the most essential thing is that this document includes a strong reference to the need for European unity, loyal cooperation between European nations in accordance with the treaties of the Union and respect for the democratic will of citizens by increasing their participation in joint decisions."

(pk)

Source: PAP/IAR