Poland's president signs law on aid to Ukrainian residents
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed into law a bill on support for the citizens of Ukraine, the head of the President's Office said on Friday, adding that Nawrocki will soon send to parliament two bills on related issues.
The right-wing Nawrocki has already vetoed a previous government bill on aid to Ukrainians living in Poland, claiming it offered too much.
In response, the government amended its bill, which now offers child benefits only to those Ukrainian parents who are working in Poland.
"With his previous vetoes, the President of Poland forced the government and Prime Minister Donald Tusk to get down to work and present solutions that were not ideal, but definitely better. In the case of the Ukrainian bill, he forced them to limit benefits for Ukrainian citizens, especially those who do not work in Poland," Zbigniew Bogucki said at a press conference on Friday.
He added that the new solutions "are actually the end of tourism from Ukraine at the expense of Polish taxpayers."
Bogucki went on to say that a range of healthcare services and other benefits will now be unavailable to Ukrainians not working in Poland.
He also said that on Monday Nawrocki will file his two bills with the Sejm speaker. The first piece of legislation extends the period after which foreigners, including Ukrainians, can apply for Polish citizenship, while the second allows for prosecuting people who promote Ukrainian World War Two-era nationalism.
Bogucki also said that it was the last bill on aiding Ukrainians that the president has signed.
"This is the last bill signed by the president in this formula of aid, special aid... because today there are no grounds and no reasons to continue such activities," he said. (PAP)
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