“The institutions of the state acted in a chaotic, delayed way. The question is how the disaster could have been prevented. Perhaps, as experts say, there is a problem in the division of tasks between the Inspectorate for Environmental Protection and the Polish Waters,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda in an interview, when asked about the environmental disaster on the Odra River.

President pointed out that he considers the opinions of experts, and he listens to them on an ongoing basis. Referring to the possible causes of the disaster, Andrzej Duda stated: ‘I have read two important statements by independent experts who are analysing the situation. It is probably a combination of natural and human causes.

“The catastrophe has unfortunately happened. The people responsible should bear the consequences”, said President Duda and added that “once the responsibility is established, it should be executed, but without political issues”.

Asked about potential food problems, the Polish President replied that such voices are “absolutely exaggerated”. He also assessed that those raising such voices “want to cause panic in the market, as it was in the case with sugar”. “It is done in order to raise prices”, he pointed out.

Andrzej Duda is convinced that “Polish agriculture provides Poles with food self-sufficiency and food security”.

President also referred to the issue of Brussels blocking money for Poland under the National Reconstruction Plan.

“This is a political problem, being played out politically today. I participated for several weeks in the process of talks when the bill was being drafted,” said Andrzej Duda. “Despite all the arrangements, my talks, these arrangements were broken. It turns out that for the European Commission, its representatives, some politicians of the European Union, those words that they said at that time have no meaning”, said the Polish President.

Adrian Andrzejewski