Duda: We want a Union of free and equal nation states

Poland remains fully committed to the European Union despite the recent number of spats, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with Reuters. “Today any party which came out and openly said 'We are a group ... that is striving to quit the EU, we don't want Poland in the EU' would have no chance on the Polish political scene,” Duda said. “We want a Union of free and equal nation states.” Opinion polls suggest up to 80 percent of Poles back membership, though many are also opposed to deeper EU integration, immigration and joining the euro zone. However, in recent months, Polish, Law and Justice government, which Duda is an ally of, butted head with Brussels. First, the EU accused Poland of breaking the rule-of-law, then the Polish government was the only one who opposed the reelection of the fellow Pole Donald Tusk as the European Council head. “Anyone who knows the Polish situation and history since 1989 understands how important it was for us to join the EU and how much we have gained,” Duda said. “Not just in purely financial terms or in terms of living standards or infrastructure, but also in terms of what we call a 'freedom' - the freedom to move around, without borders,” he explained. “Now, however, the notion is to create some exclusive clubs. This is a very bad tendency,” Duda concluded.