The alliance on the left with the Civic Platform does not automatically translate into votes in the European Parliament, where the governing blocs differ. The coalition agreement does not govern votes in Strasbourg, said a representative of the Left Club about the vote on changes to EU treaties.
In a resolution adopted in Strasbourg on Wednesday, the European Parliament backed amendments to the EU treaties. During the vote, 291 Members of the European Parliament were in favor, 274 against, and 44 abstained.
READ ALSO: Nine MEPs from Poland supported the move to amend the EU treaties. Among them were Thun, Spurek, Miller, and Cimoszewicz.
List of signatories and opposition
Polish MEPs who supported the resolution included nine individuals — Róża Thun, Marek Balt, Marek Belka, Robert Biedroń, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Łukasz Kohut, Bogusław Liberadzki, Leszek Miller, and Sylwia Spurek. They were elected from the European parliamentary lists of the governing groups including the European Coalition and allied factions, representing the Socialists and Democrats as well as the Renew and Green groups. The other Polish Members of the European Parliament, representing PiS within the European Conservatives and Reformists, and those aligned with the Civic Platform and PSL within the European People’s Party, voted against the resolution.
Wieczorek was asked about a statement from Donald Tusk, who said at a Tuesday press conference that all Polish MEPs aligned with him would vote against adopting the report with amendments.
Expressing a broader stance, a spokesperson noted that opposing progressive integration is not a reason to pause discussion or slow pace. Tusk then clarified this point.
According to Wieczorek, the left’s coalition with the Civic Platform does not bind votes in the European Parliament because the two sides sit in different groups there. Politicians connected with the Civic Platform are part of the European Conservatives and Reformists, while Polish left politicians sit with the Socialists and Democrats and with Renew and Greens groups.
Each representative retains the right to vote according to their judgment; the coalition agreement does not cover these votes.
Content agreement and negotiation process
The document approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday was endorsed by representatives from five groups: the European People’s Party, the Socialists and Democrats, Renew, the Greens, and the Left. The proposal includes 267 amendments to both treaties, the TEU and the TFEU.
The main changes call for moving away from mandatory unanimity in EU Council voting across 65 areas and shifting powers from member states to the European Union. This includes the creation of two new exclusive EU powers to protect the environment and biodiversity under Article 3 TFEU and a broad expansion of shared powers under Article 4, which would cover seven new areas including foreign and security policy, border control, public health, civil protection, industry, and education.
This summary reflects the discussions behind the document, illustrating how the proposed reforms would alter the balance of authority between national governments and the EU institutions.
In closing, the parliamentary process demonstrated the variety of positions among Polish MEPs and highlighted the ongoing debate within the EU over how to restructure decision making and power allocation among member states and the union as a whole.
In Strasbourg observers and participants noted the importance of the vote for the direction of EU treaties and the potential implications for future governance across Europe.