Television debate about EURO 2012

During the Friday television debate "How to avoid losing EURO 2012" Donald Tusk, the chairman of the Civil Platform, proposed establishment of a special parliamentary committee working solely on bills concerning EURO 2012. The idea gained support of the prime minister Jarosław Kaczyński.

The debate was organized by Channel 2 of the State Television (TVP2) 2 jointly with "Dziennik" daily. Beside Jarosław Kaczyński and Donald Tusk other participants of the debate included: the minister of sport Tomasz Lipiec, the coach of the national team of Poland Leo Beenhakker, the President of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) Michał Listkiewicz, a Euro-deputy representing Self –Defense Party Ryszard Czarnecki, the President of Poznań Ryszard Grobelny and an advisor to the minister for regional development Monika Niewinowska.

- We must not be fussy, we must work together. There’s no place here for conflicts. It is worthwhile establishing a special committee which will consider swiftly the draft bills aimed at facilitations of investments for EURO 2012 – Tusk said. The idea was supported by the prime minister Kaczyński.

- EURO 2012 is a national project in both political and other sense; a social movement and competition – in the best meaning of word - are gathering around that issue. We can do a lot for our country. Thanks to this decision Poland can change much within five years. We cannot allow for a situation where all issues at hand become a subject of a dispute in Poland – Kaczyński said.

Tomasz Lipiec, the minister of sport, reminded to all participants of the debate the decisions made at the Friday meeting of the representatives of the government and of the host cities of EURO 2012.

- Poland has always developed by fits and starts and the situation is the same now. A special bill is being developed in the ministry of finance, which is aimed at facilitation of the procedures connected with investments for EURO 2012. In the forthcoming five years Poland shall receive EUR 67 billion from the European Union. There will be changes in over 20 bills, which shall contribute to a more efficient organization of the championships – Lipiec said.

At the end of the program, results of a probe carried out among the viewers of the television debate were presented. When asked: "Will Poland manage with the organization of EURO 2012 on time?", 34% of the voters said "yes", 66% answered "no".

PAP, 26th May 2007