A new budget plan prepared by the Polish government is expected to be submitted for signing to the president on February 29 by the latest. The 2016 budget bill includes a PLN 54.74 billion deficit cap on assumption of 3.8% GDP growth and average annual inflation of 1.7%.Budget revenues are expected at PLN 313.79 billion next year, including PLN 276.12 billion in tax revenues. Spending is planned at PLN 368.53 billion.
One of the new bills passed by the ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) concerns introducing a 0.44% annual tax on assets of banks and insurers (284 MPs voted for and 157 against). It will be implemented on February 1 2016.
Another bill passed is an amendment to the public media law terminating terms of the current management boards and supervisory boards of state-run TV and radio and their replacement by appointment of the Treasury Minister.
The European Commission announced on Sunday (3 January) that it would discuss the state of the rule of law in Poland after the country’s government pushed through changes to the judiciary and media over Christmas break. EU Commissioner for the digital economy and society, Gunther Oettinger made a comment, that Poland should be put under the EU’s rule of law supervision, a procedure that could lead to the suspension of Poland’s voting rights within the bloc.The first debate will be on the agenda of the Commission’s meeting on 13 January.
In the meantime Poland’s prime minister, Beata Szydło said on Thursday that Polish government will be active during the debate concerning Poland.
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