Poland's new PM delivers policy speech

WARSAW, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Poland's new Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, gave a speech in Sejm, lower house of Polish Parliament, on Tuesday, indicating modernization of the country as one of the key goals of his government's policy.

In his speech, Morawiecki thanked his predecessor, Beata Szydlo, for two years of hard work and emphasized that his cabinet would continue the "positive change" commenced by the previous PM.

He stressed out the importance of modernization of the country, which would enable Poland to play an important role in the global technological revolution.

Morawiecki said he wanted Poland to play a subjective role in the economy, not the peripheral one, and that a transition from the consumption on credit to the capitalism of savings and investments was needed. He announced raising the minimal wage so that the Poles could earn "decently".

Morawiecki said a package of simplifying laws would soon be presented aimed at helping enterprises, especially small and medium-sized companies, which are "the heart of Polish economic philosophy".

Air pollution was raised as one of crucial challenges, therefore Morawiecki mentioned the program to fight smog and support the poorest, aimed at eliminating energy poverty. Although Poland economy is based on coal, the new PM also announced the development of alternative energy sources basing on its profitability.

Morawiecki also announced the increase in spending on healthcare up to 6 percent of the GDP, creation of most modern transport system in Europe, counteracting violence, and modernization of villages and farms.

On foreign relations, Morawiecki said Poland didn't want the EU "of two speeds" and said the EU needed to return to its values. He informed that Poland respected the recent decisions of the European Court of Justice regarding the Bialowieza Forest and would act "in accordance with its judgment".

Morawiecki also stated that NATO was and would remain the foundation of Polish security. However, he also announced developing relations with other countries of eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East.

Following the speech, the Sejm held a discussion. The vote of confidence in Morawiecki's government is planned for Tuesday midnight. Enditem