NEWSMAKER-Donald Tusk eyes thaw in EU relations as Poland's prime minister

"He had lunch at the canteen for regular workers without anyprotocol, just like a regular guy," one former official, whodeclined to be named, said. "It was like a gathering of friendstalking about the good old times."

Tusk's supporters say that bonds formed during his 2014 to2019 stint as president of the European Council, which groupsthe leaders of the member nations, are key to unblocking tens ofbillions of euros in funding withheld under the outgoinggovernment of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki due to concernsover the rule of law.

The warm relations with a man who helped corral differingfactions over Brexit and Greece's debt crisis also mark acontrast with eight years of bitter conflict with Brussels onissues ranging from migration to LGBT rights under Morawiecki'snationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

"If someone can take Poland back on a democratic, EU path,it's Tusk," one current senior EU official said. "We trust inhis leadership."

President Andrzej Duda gave Morawiecki the first shot atforming a government after the Oct. 15 election.

However, it lacks a majority and is expected to lose a voteof confidence on Monday.

That would clear the way for Tusk, who has vowed to "rebuildthe position" of Poland in Europe, to take power as the head ofa broad alliance of pro-EU parties that hold a majority ofseats.

"It's a sea change for the relations between Poland and theEU because the outgoing government perceived the EU as 'them'and Tusk and the incoming government perceives the EU as 'us',"the former official, who worked closely with Tusk, said.

"It's a fundamental difference ... because you approachnegotiations in a totally different manner if you know that youare talking to a friend not to enemies."