Szydło looking to Merkel for help with ‘needed reforms’

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło is expected to host German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Warsaw in February, and the PM has hopes that Merkel could be persuaded to push for reforms that would strengthen the role of individual Member State governments. Szydło was speaking in an interview with the radio station RMF-FM on Saturday. “Poland and Germany are certainly two countries that will set the tone for the discussion on change in the EU. We want reforms and I hope that Chancellor Merkel will become convinced that these reforms are needed for the EU,” the Polish PM said. Poland wants to convince German Chancellor Angela Merkel to support its ideas for reforming the EU. Poland's government believes that central EU institutions in Brussels wield too much power. She is lobbying for reforms that would strengthen national parliaments. Szydło said that, during the upcoming meeting, the two would talk about the impact of Brexit on the rest of the bloc, about security and reform issues. “Indeed, I agree, this is an important visit, especially now when the EU is changing, when reforms are needed,” Szydlo said. The date of Merkel's visit has not been made official yet, but Szydlo said it would be in early February.