Polish Briefing: Talks on the future of coal in Silesia. Duda appeals for sanctions against Russia

What goes on in Poland on the 25th of January.

Final talks about the social contract and the future of mining in Poland begin

Today at noon in Katowice, further talks of the government side with trade unions will begin regarding a social agreement on closing the coal sector in Poland before 2050. The meeting will be attended by trade unionists, heads of coal companies and government representatives. The parties will discuss the draft agreement presented last week by the trade unions.

On the part of the government, Government Plenipotentiary for the transition of energy companies and coal mining, Deputy Minister of State Assets Artur Soboń will take part in negotiations. The participants of the talks will be the signatories of the agreement concluded in September 2020, which initially defined the rules and pace of transition, setting the dates for closing individual mines until 2049. The parties will discuss the trade union site design. More than a month ago, the Ministry of State Assets presented trade unionists with its proposal for a draft social contract. However, it was rejected by the social side. A week ago, the unions sent their own draft of the document to the Ministry of Assets. This document is to be discussed at today’s meeting. Both sides should reach an agreement by mid-February. Then the project is to be sent to the European Commission for notification.

Duda calls for sanctions against Russia

Meanwhile, pressure is growing to extend sanctions against Russia, including Gazprom, after the detainment of the oppositionist Alexei Navalny and the brutal suppression of social protests in that country. The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, called in the Financial Times to extend sanctions against Russia. – I think that if we limit the economic functioning of Gazprom in the European Union, especially with regard to new investment agreements, then matters such as compliance with international law and human and political rights in Russia will move forward, because it will be a serious step in the sphere of economic interests of this country – said the president.