Polish PM says chances of deal on EU COVID cash have 'slightly improved'

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen prepares to welcome Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki before a meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 18, 2022. Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland has made progress in talks with the European Commission on unblocking COVID-19 recovery funds, its prime minister said on Friday, adding that he believed a deal could be reached.

Brussels has yet to approve Warsaw's National Recovery Plan, which is necessary to unblock the 36 billion euros ($40.89 billion) in funding, due to a dispute over judicial reforms the bloc says undermine the independence of the courts.