German FM raises rule-of-law issue on Polish visit

Germany is banking on a mutual solution to the conflict between the European Union and Poland over observance of the rule of law, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday during her first visit to Warsaw since taking office.

Where differences are so large, "it is all the more important to hold intensive discussions on these issues," Baerbock said after meeting her Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau.

"One needs not only a bit of diplomatic luck, but always hope as well, in foreign policy and diplomacy," Baerbock said in response to a question whether she hoped for a change of course from Poland after her talks.

"Yes, I believe that we as Europeans can solve problems together, and that means working together," she said.

Rau said that "a strategic and patient dialogue" was needed for the rule-of-law issue.

Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed concern at a ruling by Poland's Constitutional Court regarding the independence of the judiciary.

"I am deeply concerned. This ruling calls into question the foundations of the European Union. It is a direct challenge to the unity of the European legal order," Von der Leyen said.

Turning to the situation on Poland's eastern border with Belarus, Baerbock urged the Polish authorities to allow humanitarian aid through to the sealed-off border region.

She expressed solidarity with the Polish government regarding what she termed the extortion manoeuvres of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in encouraging refugees to attempt to cross the border.

Rau raised the issue of the war reparations demanded by the Polish government for destruction caused by Nazi Germany's invasion of the country in World War II.

"We expect from the new German government the readiness to accept this responsibility, in the form of talks about compensation and reparations," he said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is to visit Warsaw on Sunday.

He and his centre-left coalition government were sworn in on Wednesday, sending Angela Merkel's conservatives into opposition as she retires from politics.