A proposal to establish a European-level commission on Russian influence is to be examined at the highest political circles. President Andrzej Duda has asked Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to raise the matter with the European Council, seeking a firm and coordinated response from EU leaders.
Russian influence in Europe
During a recent address, the president underscored a well-known reality: for years Russia and its authorities have sought to sway the politics of other nations. Their aim has been to cultivate interdependence and to steer outcomes in Europe that would be favorable to Russian interests. These efforts have involved various channels, including economic and business arrangements, all designed to extend influence, shape decisions, and in some cases tilt the balance of power in ways advantageous to Moscow. This is not a hidden story for anyone who follows European affairs.
The president noted that discussions about these tactics are active in several countries, including the United States, France, and Germany. He recalled a US report from years past which suggested that Russia spent a substantial sum on informal influence operations and lobbying activities.
Russian influence, he said, has contributed to destabilization, and its repercussions feed into broader concerns such as Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine and Europe’s current energy challenges. He stressed that these issues are real and deserve clear scrutiny to understand their mechanisms and consequences.
Such a commission should be set up at European level
The president informed that a recent conversation with Prime Minister Morawiecki touched on what could be achieved by addressing the issue at the European level. The aim, he believes, is to shed light on how Russian influence operates within European institutions, as well as to assess its impact on policy and governance across member states.
He argued that a dedicated body should be established within Europe to investigate Russian influence and to evaluate associated lobbying efforts, funding streams, and the ways money circulates through European institutions and projects. The emphasis, he said, should be on transparency and accountability, ensuring that European-level oversight covers both institutions and the actions of individual member states.
The president turned to the prime minister
The head of state stated that he urged Prime Minister Morawiecki to press for a formal move. The objective is to present this issue to the European Council—where EU leaders gather to make the most significant political decisions—and to seek a joint decision among member states to establish a commission that will operate on a European scale. The intention is to create a framework that can examine Russian influence, Russian lobbying, and the flow of Russian money into European institutions and projects. The inquiry would trace how those funds are sourced, how they are allocated, and where they end up.
The call is for a transparent, Europe-wide inquiry that can test claims against individual countries and institutions. This approach would allow a comprehensive assessment of how external influence is exerted and what safeguards are needed to protect European governance from covert interference.
Use Russian money to rebuild Ukraine
As the president emphasized, the proceeds connected to Russian influence should be located, frozen, and, where possible, blocked so that they can be redirected toward rebuilding Ukraine. The overarching goal is to help Ukraine recover from aggression and to prevent funds linked to malign influence from supporting projects that complicate European security. Ukraine must, in the president’s view, rise from hardship and rebuild with resources that are not tainted by the aggressor.
These remarks come alongside ongoing discussions about how to ensure that European institutions act with integrity and resilience in the face of foreign influence. The dialogue underscores the need for robust oversight, cross-border cooperation, and principled policy responses that protect democratic processes and economic stability across Europe.
[citation: wPolityce]