A conference of politicians in the field of Law and Justice was held in the Sejm, which informed about the submission to the Marshal’s staff of a draft resolution committing the Council of Ministers to oppose changes to the EU treaties that the Polish would undermine sovereignty.
Minister for European Affairs Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński and the Chairman of the Government Legislation Center Krzysztof Szczucki informed Polish public opinion during a press conference that there is a resolution on the work of the European Parliament on changes to the EU Treaties has been submitted to the Sejm for consideration.
Voice of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland
Tomorrow, the European Parliament will hold a vote on the European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee, which includes a package of 267 amendments that radically change the decision-making structure, appointment of bodies and voting mechanisms in various EU bodies. The principle of unanimity and the right of veto on a number of very important issues that are basic elements of the sovereignty of all Member States are abolished.
– said Paweł Jabłoński.
We, as Law and Justice, have decided that the Polish Sejm should also express its opinion on this issue. The Sejm of the Republic of Poland cannot remain silent on this issue. (…) Yesterday we proposed that the seniors’ convention recognize this draft resolution and put it on the agenda of the meeting. The resolution includes an obligation for the Council of Ministers, for each Polish government, to vote against changes that limit Polish sovereignty.
– adds the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sovereignty of nation states
Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk emphasized how important Brussels’ attempt to amend the Treaties, which will result in a restriction of the sovereignty of the Member States, is for the future shape of the European Union.
This issue is of particular importance because it concerns all the inherent features of state sovereignty. These include powers to defend its own borders, decide how its own energy mix is designed, taxes are constructed and how foreign or defense policy is conducted. (…) If these proposals were adopted, these powers would be exercised by the EU
– he explained.
He also referred to the proposal to change the voting procedure for the most important issues in the European Union.
Moreover, the second aspect of this issue is the reduction of the unanimity requirement in a number of procedures to the level of qualified majority or simple majority. Simple majority becomes the standard procedure; where no other procedure is described in the Treaties, a simple majority applies. On such an important issue as the decision on the Multiannual Financial Framework, i.e. the EU budget, decisions were taken unanimously and therefore the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework took a long time, but the solution developed took into account the interests of all Member States
– he said.
Szynkowski vel Sęk drew attention to the extraordinary acceleration in the pace of EU legislative work in this area.
These proposals are extremely dangerous. The pace of work also makes you wonder why there has been such a sudden acceleration now, in recent weeks. (…) Next year is a year of institutional changes in the EU – elections for the European Parliament, a new European Commission. Perhaps those who are in such a hurry on this issue know that in the new institutional arrangement there will no longer be support for such radical solutions.
– said the Minister of EU Affairs.
What will Marshal Hołownia do?
The chairman of the Government Legislation Center, Krzysztof Szczucki, focused mainly on the national context, and especially on the reception of EU treaty changes among opposition politicians.
Politicians from KO, Third Way and the Left seem to ignore the process currently taking place in the EU. Just consult the summary of the EP Analysis Office, where you can read about radical changes in the EU. The EP itself indicates that these reforms are fundamental and radical and will significantly change the EU system
– he declared.
It must be said that adopting such changes, which we strongly oppose, would require an amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. It is not sufficient to ratify such a treaty even by a two-thirds majority, in accordance with the procedure provided for by the Constitution, when it comes to the transfer of powers from certain state bodies to international organizations. If anyone in Poland wanted to take these cases from the Polish authorities and send them to Brussels, they would first have to change the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
– he added.
The PiS MP also wondered whether the new Marshal of the Sejm, who has vowed to lift the ‘parliament freeze’, will be willing to slightly extend the duration of the Sejm’s sessions and – as in the case of the vitro project – the resolution submitted by PiS politicians to be processed.
Tomorrow the European Parliament will discuss the resolution, and Marshal Szymon Hołownia, who claims that there will be no “parliament freeze”, de facto wants to send this resolution there. Please note the schedule for today’s agenda, which is scheduled until 2 p.m. Let’s stay until 4 or 5 p.m. – that’s not that much time. I don’t think the members of KO and Third Path would overwork themselves
– he emphasized.
This resolution really won’t last long, and the issues of the Republic of Poland, its sovereignty and independence, as well as the issues of the ‘ordinary people’ – taxes, security, energy mix – are really worth staying a little longer in the Sejm . In the case of the in vitro project, Marshal Hołownia shortened the legal deadlines. Why doesn’t he want to shorten them when it comes to such an important resolution?
– Szczucki summed it up.
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pn/TVP-info
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.