A Polish parliamentary resolution seeking compensation for losses suffered at the hands of Nazi Germany was in fact aimed at prodding the European Union over regional aid for Poland, the head of the assembly said Wednesday.

Speaker Jozef Oleksy said the controversial resolution passed last Friday was "aimed at the EU as a reminder (of Poland's losses) when it comes to hand out regional fund and aid money."

"It could lead to particular goodwill (on the part of the EU) to help us regain lost ground," he added.

Although Friday's vote was almost unanimous, the Polish government on Tuesday said the question of wartime reparations was closed.

The parliamentary resolution has been widely viewed as a response to recent demands by some German nationals for the restitution of former property that ended up in Polish territory after the end of the war.

Oleksy said it was unfortunate that the parliament and the government had expressed different positions on the issue. He also expressed regret that the resolution by the Diet, or parliament, had caused a chill in Polish-German relations.

In a statement on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Poland had abandoned hope of winning war reparations in 1953.

He nevertheless announced that the government would set up an interministerial group charged with evaluating the losses suffered by Poland in World War II.

The exercise would be purely intended to provide a "reminder of the causes and effects of war," he added.

"Our intention is not linked to any demand for compensation. It is a case of illustrating and reminding those who may have forgotten about World War II and its consequences," he said.

"It is perhaps such forgetfulness that has led to demands for compensation from us," he added, in reference to a series of claims for restitution of property seized from Germans forced to flee after 1945.

Cimoszewicz said Germany would have to work with Poland to avoid claims being brought before the courts.

"It would be unimaginable for anyone, be it the Polish state or a Polish citizen, to be brought before the courts," he said.

Cimoszewicz added that the government would "work out provisions to support its citizens if they were brought before the courts over a claim for compensation".

In May this year Poland became an EU member, entering the union along with nine other mostly eastern European states. As such it is potentially eligible for EU regional aid.