Polish PM backs president's development plan

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has expressed his full support for the Duda Plan of solidary development for the entire country in the coming years.

"Poland needs this plan. On my part, I give my full support for the Duda Plan," the PM said on Facebook on Saturday.

The president, continuing his campaign trail before the June 28 presidential vote, told Stalowa Wola residents that the plan for the coming years is a plan of large strategic investments, such as the Central Transportation Port or the construction of the shipping canal through the Vistula Spit, "investments which will be the flywheel of our economy and will not only lead us out of the crisis, but above all lead us along a path of development over the next few years," said Duda.

The president said he wanted Poland to draw its strength from a tradition based on Christianity and at the same time a tradition that "makes us think in a modern way."

Mentioning the Central Communication Port the incumbent president said the investment will strengthen Poland's place in "Europe's (air) space." Referring to the already in progress canal construction, involving the necessity of cutting through the Vistula Spit, Duda said the second project is being questioned "as it stands against various interests, including foreign ones".

The Central Transportation Port, planned as Poland's most important infrastructural investment and a transit hub, is to integrate air, rail and road transport. It is to be built some 37 km south of Warsaw and is planned to initially service 45 million passengers annually, rising eventually to 100 million. The first stage of the project is set to be completed by the end of 2027.

The cost of the whole project is valued at PLN 25 billion (EUR 5.9 billion).

The construction of the PLN 992 million (EUR 229 million) canal cutting through the Vistula Spit is to provide the Vistula Lagoon with independent access to the Baltic Sea. Today, Polish ships sailing into and out of the Vistula Lagoon need to use the Russian-administered Strait of Baltiysk.

The Vistula Spit and the Vistula Lagoon are classified as EU protected areas under the Natura 2000 scheme.