A recent dialogue sheds light on the ongoing tension between national policy decisions in Poland and the European Union’s regulatory framework. A PiS member of the European Parliament, Kosma Złotowski, spoke to wPolityce.pl to stress that the government had prepared a bill and that delays caused by electoral disruptions needed a swift resolution. He suggested that the issue is not merely a political complaint and indicated that the government would still be formed, implying that the European Commission would extend a degree of latitude in this moment.
In this context, he emphasized that the EU executive would not complicate matters more than necessary, framing the situation as a practical challenge rather than a political stall. The exchange touches on how EU oversight intersects with national legislative processes at a time when political momentum can influence the tempo of regulatory actions.
The European Commission has taken a formal step by referring Poland to the Court of Justice of the European Union, accusing the country of enforcing restrictive conditions on cross-border natural gas trading through national storage regulations. This move highlights a broader concern from Brussels about how storage rules interact with market access and security of supply across member states.
Polish law under the Stocks Act imposes specific duties on importers and traders who handle natural gas stored outside Polish territory. They must ensure at all times the capacity to supply the total mandatory stocks to the national transmission or distribution network. The law also requires reserving continuous transmission capacity for Poland should the need arise. It is notable that the secondary market for trading reserved capacity is not permitted, and the rule does not apply to what are described as gas suppliers using storage facilities within Poland.
The Commission’s published communication states these requirements create an extra burden for operators storing gas abroad. It argues that such burdens can distort competition, hinder the smooth functioning of the internal market, and potentially threaten the security of gas supply. This framing situates national storage rules within the larger EU objective of ensuring reliable energy access while maintaining fair competition across borders.
Brussels has underscored that the obligations placed on foreign storage operators do not align with EU standards for energy security and market integration. The argument centers on balancing national control over strategic reserves with the EU’s emphasis on market neutrality and cross-border trading freedom. The Commission framed the dispute as one involving potential market distortions and barriers to the internal market, which are topics frequently examined in EU energy policy debates.
Readers should note that coverage of this issue has been persistent, with repeated references to the Commission’s stance on security of gas supply and competitive balance. The situation remains under close observation as both sides articulate their positions and seek a path that upholds energy reliability while honoring EU rules.
In related discussions, observers were pointed to a recent communication that elaborates the Commission’s position on the matter and clarifies how national storage requirements interact with cross-border trading dynamics. This emphasis on risk of distortion of competition serves to illustrate why Brussels views the case as part of a broader pattern of regulatory alignment across the single energy market.
As developments unfold, readers are reminded that the core issue hinges on the compatibility of Poland’s storage-related obligations with EU-wide principles governing energy security, market access, and fair competition. The ongoing dialogue reflects the friction that can arise when national regulatory tools intersect with supranational standards that aim to safeguard the interior market and ensure stable energy supplies for consumers.
Notes: this overview reflects statements and documents circulated by European institutions and Polish officials, with attribution to the sources of the original reporting.
[Citation: wPolityce]