Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski indicated to Brussels reporters that he plans to brief PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński on his work at the European Commission in the coming days and reiterated that he does not see a basis for dismissal. He emphasized that he is carrying out his mandate and noted a lack of information about his activities in Poland.
“Most of what I do remains little known in Poland. I need to communicate it more clearly. I don’t see any negligence on my part. I wonder what else I could do in the agricultural sector, and honestly I don’t see anything like that right now. Accepting responsibility would imply that no mistakes were made. I have to stay calm”, he said.
Regarding his European Commission work, he explained that, at his request, there will be safeguards on imports of sugar, poultry, and eggs into the EU as part of the trade liberalization agreement with Ukraine, and he highlighted that he pushed for exemptions in tillage regulations, allowing farmers not to set aside 4 percent of arable land.
The commissioner also noted his criticism of the EC’s project to halve pesticide use in the EU by 2030, stating that the Commission ultimately withdrew from that initiative.
On Saturday, Wojciechowski spoke remotely with Brussels correspondents from the Polish Press Agency, Polish Radio, and RMF.
Words from the PiS president about Wojciechowski
EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski should finish his mission; I will raise the issue today, but I have no influence over whether he remains in office, said PiS President Jarosław Kaczyński.
Journalists in the Sejm asked whether he was satisfied with Wojciechowski’s work.
“I think the Commissioner must complete his mission, and I will call him today because I have no other option”, Kaczyński asserted.
“Yet I do not know whether he will finish it—this is his decision alone. These unfortunate statements suggest he should end his mission. The term would likely be shortened by a few months, since the next commissioner will be chosen by the current majority”, he added.
The PiS president also criticized the European Union, saying that it has “gone crazy” and accusing the bloc of aiming to dismantle agriculture. He framed the issue as a clash between ideological motives or specific interests.
Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated in the Sejm on Friday that farmers’ protests across Europe are a serious matter. He noted that a figure in Europe managed to unite peasants from both Poland and other countries against reforms Wojciechowski proposed, calling for his resignation.
Farmers nationwide announced a 30-day protest, including potential border-crossing blockades with Ukraine. The decision, taken by NSZZ Solidarność Rolników Indywidualnych, cites the EU’s extension of duty-free trade with Ukraine through 2025 as a key reason, along with opposition to the Green Deal and goods from Ukraine, with demonstrations planned in Romania, France, and Belgium.
The scene remains tense as agricultural groups push back against policy shifts perceived as harmful to farmers’ livelihoods. The situation reflects broader dissatisfaction amid ongoing policy debates over trade, tariffs, and environmental regulations in the EU.
[Citation: wPolityce]