Jacek Saryusz-Wolski Warns About Strategies Undermining Consensus in the EU Parliament
The PiS member of the European Parliament, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, flags serious concerns about what he calls Bolshevik tactics that undermine the principle of consensus within the European Parliament and the European Union overall. He stresses that the path chosen by policymakers in Brussels could threaten essential democratic norms and the functioning of the EP and the EU as a whole.
In the discussions on amendments to EU treaties within the AFCO committee of the European Parliament, the Verhofstadt group of six co-rapporteurs worked on a report about constitutional changes. The member explains that the consensus principle was already in effect from the outset of these proceedings, although he later chose to depart from the group in protest.
The MEP recalls that at the start of the process in July 2022, Guy Verhofstadt appointed himself as executive rapporteur without prior consent. He began to steer the group’s work, with broad support from all participants except Saryusz-Wolski, who made clear his opposition from the ECR. The executive rapporteur organized the official committee apparatus and drew on a large pool of secret external experts outside the Parliament’s normal channels.
As the year closed, with dozens of hours spent in negotiations, a content agreement was taking shape among the EP’s five political groups before July 2023. It was then revealed that the majority would decide what counted as consensus, rather than requiring the agreement of every co-rapporteur. This shift, Saryusz-Wolski notes, effectively redefined consensus to mean majority approval rather than unanimous accord, setting a precedent for how consensus would be interpreted in practice.
The MEP draws conclusions for today, outlining the potential consequences of the described circumstances. He argues that the EU mainstream now interprets democratic principles, including consensus, through a lens shaped by contemporary political forces within the Union.
Looking ahead to further stages of treaty amendment work, Saryusz-Wolski warns about possible methods of political and institutional pressure that could erode the letter and spirit of the law. He cautions that consensus may be challenged and that resistance from member states or political formations could face pressure and even sanctions as new instruments of influence are deployed.
He urges vigilance against the belief that the path toward a centralized, oligarchic EU superstate could emerge without any veto from a few nations. The experience with the Constitutional Treaty is cited to remind that pressure can break even long-standing rules when the political climate shifts.
To counter perceived threats, the MEP lays out concrete actions. He calls for the rapid formation of a broad social movement opposing silent erosion of national sovereignty and democratic rights. He also advocates for a coalition of states that defend the EU as a community of sovereign nations, echoing the founding vision of Robert Schuman against any capture of Europe by dominant interests.
Without such unity, a coalition of left liberal elites could push forward a revolutionary concept of dissolving nation states and their democratic control, a direction he associates with earlier strands of European political thought. The risk, in his view, is that the unimaginable could become reality if acts of coordination and influence go unchecked.
The MEP emphasizes that the threat is not hypothetical. He regards it as a real possibility if decisive action is not taken now to protect national sovereignty and the integrity of democratic institutions across Europe.
In closing, the discussion turns to practical steps. Saryusz-Wolski urges immediate organization of a broad civic movement to resist the quiet erosion of national rights and democratic oversight, along with a diplomatic front of like-minded states committed to preserving Europe as a union of equal, sovereign nations.
In summary, the message is clear. Without proactive responses, the EU risk tilting toward centralized control that may compromise the principle of consent across member states. The appeal is for vigilance, unity, and principled action to safeguard the democracies that underpin Europe’s future.
[Sources: wPolityce]