Tusk in Brussels: I'm here to rebuild position of Poland in Europe and strengthen EU

Tusk, who is likely to become Poland's next prime minister after a group of pro-European Union parties secured a majority in an Oct. 15 election, is aiming to gain access to billions of euros the EU put on hold due to concerns about judicial independence under the previous nationalist government.

"This purpose today is to rebuild the position of my country in Europe and to strengthen the EU as a whole. The results of the elections in Poland and the amazing turnout, you said it, already, also among the youngest voters in Poland, showed clearly to the whole of Europe, I think, that democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, European unity are still really important to our citizens. I'm really proud of my compatriots. They have proved that the anti-democratic and anti-European mood doesn't have to be a trend, that it's just seasonal turbulence, I hope. I'm so proud to be a Pole and to be European."

"I am here of course as the leader of the opposition, not as the prime minister, but time is passing inexorably," he told a televised news conference. "I had to take this initiative before the final post-election decisions are made, because we have to use all, even non-standard, methods to save the money to which Poland is entitled."

"And that is why, thanks to the kindness of the president of the Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen, we can discuss these questions although of course the meeting will be an informal one," Tusk added.

At stake is Poland's access to 35.4 billion euros ($37.41 billion) in grants and loans from the EU's recovery fund.

"The record turnout in the elections that took place in Poland on October 15 has showed once again that Poles are strongly attached to democracy," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

"Donald Tusk and me, we will be discussing important issues today in which the voice of Poland is crucial. The war at the borders of our union and the continued support for Ukraine will be one of them. Poles are proud Europeans. They have already shown enormous solidarity and took responsibility in many dimensions."

EU concerns over the Polish judicial reforms are also blocking Warsaw's access to 76.5 billion euros of 'cohesion funds', which are meant to raise the standard of living in poorer regions of Europe.

Poles are waiting to see whom President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the outgoing Law and Justice (PiS) administration, will task with forming a government.

PiS came first in the election but is unlikely to find a partner with enough seats to form a coalition government. However, Duda has said previously that the largest single party would get the first attempt.

Tusk and a delegation from his Civic Coalition (KO) grouping met Duda on Tuesday.

"After meeting President Duda, I have reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Tusk told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday. "Everything indicates that cooperation should be as harmonious as possible."

"He assured us that he would respect the election results, that if it was confirmed that the opposition had a majority, he would not hesitate and would give it the mission of forming a government."

The leaders of the three groupings intent on forming the next administration have all ruled out working with PiS and have urged Duda not to delay in giving Tusk the job of forming a government.