Interview for the Hungarian daily newspaper "Magyar Nemzet":
The conservative parties in Europe, in particular Fidesz, Law and Justice and the Italian League, have been negotiating intensively in recent months on possible institutionalized cooperation. Will these discussions yield tangible results?
This is already happening. In the modern world, we do not need a brick-and-mortar institution to effectively bring something like a permanent cooperation mechanism to life, of which the Visegrad Group is an excellent example. Otherwise, it would be difficult to go from the phase of habitually unsophisticated negation to thinking and acting in ways that co-create reality, including the future of the European Union.
By the way Warsaw Summit of Conservative and Center-Right Forces On 4 December we reiterated our strong opposition to the German vision of transforming the EU into a superstate or federation. Our common goal is for the EU to return to its roots in accordance with Robert Schuman's vision of a community of equal, free and sovereign states. There are differences of opinion between us on some issues. More important, however, was the discussion on whether we have a common vision, a strong enough will to pursue a policy leading to a strong European Union, strong with the strength of its citizens and sovereign states. A Union which is concerned with solving its citizens' problems, and not with creating side issues and situations in the face of real existing challenges.
Poland's Constitutional Court has recently given precedence to Polish law over EU law, angering EU institutions and Western European governments. Will Warsaw stick to its position even in the face of possible severe financial sanctions?
Every official, every institution, including the EU institutions, must act on the basis and within the limits of the law. This is a fundamental principle of the rule of law. Article 1 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU says explicitly: "This Treaty organises the functioning of the Union and determines the fields, limits and conditions for the exercise of its competences. If an area of life, such as justice, does not fall under EU competence by the will of all EU member states, this should be respected. Warsaw respects the will of other capitals expressed in the treaty and expects the same from EU bodies. Imposing financial sanctions on someone, whoever it may be, for unwillingness to violate the provisions of the treaty, can only originate in the minds of politicians who, if they think at all, certainly do not think anything good about the EU and do not wish it a good future, but simply its survival.
As was the case many times before with the German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe and other constitutional courts many times before, in our case in 2005, 2010 and 2011, decisions of the European Commission, acts of the ECJ outside the competence of the treaties, are invalid. The Constitution and the decision of the national Constitutional Court is in such cases the only and conclusive one. Any politician who would like to ignore it is breaking the law.
(3) Do you agree that the European Commission and the European Parliament have already exceeded their powers and have become politically biased bodies?
Yes. There is not the slightest doubt about this. Both the European Commission and the European Parliament have, for several years now, definitely been going further and further, interfering in matters that completely deviate from the competences granted to them in the treaties. This trend was started by Jean-Claude Juncker, who announced that under his leadership the European Commission would become a political body. A similar phenomenon can be observed in the European Parliament, which is dominated by liberal-left forces. They are attacking the conservative governments of Warsaw and Budapest because they cannot accept that some nations can hold other worldviews than the Brussels mainstream.
4 For the first time Poland is facing a serious wave of illegal immigration. Will the wall designed to defend the Polish-Belarusian border be sufficient?
The crisis situation on the Polish-Belarusian border has little to do with the migration crisis. Migrants are brought in and used by the Belarusian KGB, army and border guards. Partly because of the growing problems of Lukashenka's regime, partly, or rather mainly because of the Kremlin's policy towards Ukraine and Europe in general, where force, intimidation, corruption, divide et impera policy and everything else that serves to support the reconstruction of the Russian empire is eagerly used. The construction of fortifications on the border from this point of view is just as important as influencing those EU countries that still think that a policy of appeasement and nice phone calls can curb the Kremlin's growing appetite.
5. can Poland count on help from its EU partner countries and EU institutions in this fight?
Like when, like on which. There is no denying that thanks to Hungary's still publicly unappreciated work and stance in defending the Schengen agreements, it has not only succeeded in reducing illegal immigration into the EU in the years to come, but also in showing that the voice of several countries, such as the Visegrad Group, as long as we all act in the conditions of union, it can turn out in a short time to be a majority, universal voice. This is the phenomenon of freedom, the strength of Europe for centuries. If only we do not lose it, if only the union remains a union - it and we each will benefit greatly in the decades to come.
6 Opinions on managing the migration crisis vary widely across the European Union. Given such debates and disagreements, how can we stem the flow of migrants into Europe?
Complying with the applicable law, the provisions of the Schengen Treaty. Those who do not break the law and do not attempt to illegally cross the border are entitled to apply for refugee status. That's it and that's it.
Which does not relieve us of the obligation, to make the situation clear, to help, including financially, all those countries and people in the world who - after all - have been less fortunate in history, live outside of Europe, were not born on the Vistula or the Danube.
