Roundup: Polish, British leaders discuss EU's future

Polish President Andrzej Duda and visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron here on Thursday discussed the future of the European Union (EU) as well as the challenges the union is facing.

Earlier the day, Cameron met Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, discussed the refugees crisis and the upcoming NATO summit, among other issues.

Duda and Cameron discussed the future role and status of Britain within the EU.

The leaders of both countries agreed on the fact that reforms are needed, while the EU should be a "union of equal countries and free nations," Krzysztof Szczerski, a foreign policy adviser to Poland's president, told a news briefing after the meeting.

He underlined the fact that both politicians share a common opinion that the EU's elementary ingredient is the member countries, therefore, any reform which could make the Union more adjusted to the development needs of various member countries, including "flexible Union" conception, is a good vision.

Szczerski added that such a conception would give every member state a right to throughout utilize its economic potential, wherein the president of Poland especially underlined the country's energy potential. Both countries also adopted a similar position as far as increasing the role of national parliaments is concerned.

Poland also emphasized that while discussing the EU's future, the fundamental rule should be non-discrimination, free, unconstrained flow of people, equal rights and the acquired rights that should be kept.

Another issue is Cameron's plan on reducing the social benefits for immigrants, including those of Polish origin. This issue, as was agreed, requires more creativity in developing solutions in order not to violate the rule of non-discrimination.

Earlier the day, Beata Szydlo said there was still no complete agreement on restricting immigrant benefits. "The freedom of people's flow is one of European integration bases, it is very important to Poland," Szydlo said, adding Poland would try to persuade its partners to keep it.

Asked whether the possibility of Britain leaving the European Union, Szczerski assessed that within the interest of each and every member countries there was maintaining of Union's stability.

Prime Minister Szydlo also expressed hope that Britain continues to be an EU member.

The British prime minister plans on negotiating the changes in Britain's membership in the European Union before the referendum on leaving the Union scheduled for the end of 2017. His conditions concern acquiring rights to stricter control over the immigration from within the EU's countries, working out conditions of cooperation between the countries within and outside the eurozone, as well as maintaining countries' sovereignty and increasing the role of national parliaments.

During Cameron's visit, issues of security and geopolitics were also raised, especially the situation in Syria and recent refugees crisis.

Another issue raised was the security policy, especially the NATO summit to be held in Warsaw next year.

Both sides agreed on the fact that it is hoped that the summit should bring intensive and stable presence of NATO presence in Eastern and Central Europe region.

As far as the Ukrainian crisis is concerned, both leaders agreed on the necessity to prolong sanctions against Russia, as the Minsk Agreement's resolutions are not being fulfilled comprehensively.

Both countries also discussed the economic cooperation and investments.

Cameron reached Warsaw on Wednesday evening for a two-day visit to the country. It was a second official visit of the British premier in Poland this year, after the series of consultations held in May, also concerning the proposals of the EU's reforms. Endit