'Poland as a model for other EU countries in foreign aid': vice president of PiS
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According to Joachim Brudziński, MEP and PiS deputy president, Poland can serve as a model for other EU member states in providing aid to "victims of war conflicts". Joachim Brudziński's statement was made last week during a debate in the European Parliament. It concerned the migration situation at the external borders of the European Union.
The PiS MP has traditionally criticized – as he put it – "the policy of the so-called open door used by some European countries, including Germany.” He pointed out that it is the cause of the difficult humanitarian situation in refugee centers in North Africa or on the migration routes in West Africa, Asia Minor, and the Middle East.
He also argued that in this matter there is a need not only for solidarity between the EU Member States but also with external partners, i.e. the countries of origin or transit.
He also did not hide that it would require large funds from the EU not only for current humanitarian aid, but also for the so-called development aid, i.e. aimed at long-term improvement of the situation, and not only ensuring the satisfaction of basic needs, i.e. based on water, food, medicines or shelter.
"An example can be my country, Poland, which for years has been directing enormous resources and support to the inhabitants and victims of war conflicts, for example in Syria," said Brudziński.
The trouble is that although our country does support Syrian refugees, incl. in Lebanon, it is hard to acknowledge that we are a "role model" for anyone in the EU in terms of development aid. Poland ranks last among the 29 countries forming the Development Cooperation Committee (DAC) under the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (ex aequo with Slovakia) in terms of expenditure on development aid in relation to Gross National Income. According to the latest available list (for 2019), Poland spent only 0.12 percent of GNI for development assistance (defined according to the OECD standard).
