This month's news highlights

NEWSMARK

WHITE HOUSE HOSTS POLAND’S HEADS OF STATE. President Biden welcomed President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland for a joint meeting at the White House on March 12. The leaders will reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s brutal war of conquest. The meeting also coincided with the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO and underscores the United States’ and Poland’s shared commitment to the Alliance. The three coordinated ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington. Also discussed was the U.S.-Polish strategic energy security partnership, economic relationships, and the United States’ and Poland’s shared commitment to democratic values.

FARMERS PROTEST RESTRICTIONS. Thousands of Polish farmers have marched in Warsaw against EU climate policies and Ukrainian imports, demanding that authorities meet their demands. The protest began at the Palace of Science and Culture and continued towards parliament and the prime minister’s chancellery. The protesters demanded that the authorities abandon restrictions on agriculture planned under the EU’s “Green Deal” climate package and place tougher restrictions on agricultural goods from Ukraine.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to take action to address trade with Ukraine, stating that liberalizing trade with Ukraine negatively affects their economies. Agriculture minister Czesław Siekierski criticized the European Commission for imposing excessive, unreasonable, and costly Green Deal requirements. Farmers have blocked roads around Poland and border crossings with Ukraine, and Ukraine has called on Poland to resolve the blockades. The Polish and Ukrainian governments are due to meet for bilateral talks.

FUNDS HEADED TO WARSAW. Poland will gain access to up to 137 billion euros ($148 billion) in European Union funds, according to the head of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen. The new government in Warsaw has begun implementing reforms that aim to restore judicial independence in the country. Unblocking the cash was a promise made by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European coalition government. Gaining access to the funds will provide an investment boost for an economy that has been buffeted by the fallout of the war in Ukraine and is weighed down by weakness in big trading partner Germany. The Polish zloty was 0.14% firmer on the day following the announcement, reversing losses from earlier in the session. The previous government under the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party was embroiled in a long-running spat with the EU over reforms that critics said increased political influence over the courts.

REPORT FINDS BIASED REPORTING. A report by the Demagog website has found Polish state broadcaster TVP has displayed a pro-government bias since its takeover by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s administration. The report compared the output of TVP after the change of power in December with the reporting of the two largest private broadcasters, TVN and Polsat. The report found TVP omitted information unfavorable to the new government, criticized President Andrzej Duda more than other broadcasters, and marginalized the opposition. Before the change of government, public media were used as a propaganda mouthpiece by the Law and Justice party (PiS). When Tusk’s administration took power, it justified its takeover of TVP by arguing it had to be “depoliticized.”

ANCIENT ANIMAL BONES DISCOVERED. Archaeological works have discovered 200 well-preserved bear, cave lion, and mammoth bones and other artifacts in Paradise Cave, Poland. The cave, known for its natural rock formations, is being conducted for the first time since the 1960s to research climate change and establish the history of Neanderthal man in the area. The research, which began in the 1960s, aims to reconstruct climate and environmental changes in prehistoric Southern Poland and their impact on settlement strategies. The cave, formed 360 million years ago, is famous for its mineral formations and has attracted thousands of tourists since its opening in 1972.