European sovereignty and security debates in Lublin: PiS candidates emphasize national defense and regional autonomy

“We will not experiment with our security”

In Lublin, Mariusz Kamiński, a PiS leader on the European Parliament list from the Lublin region, argued that a European army is not acceptable. He urged Poland to prioritize strong national defense and close cooperation with the United States and NATO, rather than backing a supranational security framework. The message was clear: sovereignty should not be ceded to a pan-European military entity.

Kamiński warned that a major discussion over the EU’s future would unfold in the current parliamentary term. He called for a union of sovereign nations that prosper through economic and political collaboration, with mutual help during crises, and stated that Poland would not consent to a European superstate.

The speaker criticized the Green Deal and EU interference in Poland’s agricultural sector. He claimed that attempts to reshape agricultural policy would harm Polish farmers and threaten food safety by instructing producers how to grow and supply healthy foods. He pointed to an influx of inexpensive goods from outside the union, citing Ukraine and South America as examples. He pledged that his party would defend farmers’ rights against such pressure.

According to Kamiński, the Green Deal should be set aside and resistance within the European Union would be intense. He argued that the EU seeks to control external borders, including Poland’s eastern frontier, and insisted that Poland alone should decide who may enter and under what procedures.

Talk of a European army was described as unfounded by Kamiński, who emphasized Poland’s aim to build a robust national defense that would lead on NATO’s eastern flank. He reaffirmed a preference for NATO and a strong partnership with the United States over any form of European military integration. Poland’s security was framed as a national priority that does not tolerate experiments in military alignment.

Regarding the European elections, Kamiński suggested a potential shift to the right across Europe. He criticized what he called a left-liberal establishment ruling from Brussels, arguing that such groups fear a real political realignment on the continent.

Saryusz-Wolski and the Constitutional Commission

A high placement on the PiS list saw Jacek Saryusz-Wolski begin his campaign in Lublin with a pledge to finish work started earlier. He reminded supporters that he represented PiS and the Conservative and Reformist faction within the Constitutional Commission during the current term. He described a controversial proposal within that body to transform the European Union from a community of sovereign states into a centralized superstate, an upper state with hegemonic ambitions, likening it to historic empires and principalities.

The critique highlighted concerns about centralization and the potential erosion of member states’ sovereignty, a recurring theme from Kamiński and other PiS candidates. Saryusz-Wolski framed the debate as a defense of national autonomy against a distant, unaccountable ruling framework in Brussels.

“European superstate under German rule”

Przemysław Czarnek, a prominent PiS figure and member of parliament from the Lublin region, tied the electoral outcome to the EU’s fate. He argued that the Union would endure only if it returns to libertarian, Christian, and democratic roots. Czarnek urged a return to treaty-based governance, insisting that the EU should operate according to binding agreements rather than evolving into a structure resembling a German-dominated superstate.

He called for a governance approach that respects the rule of law and rejects any attempt to override established treaties. The rhetoric painted a cautious path back to foundational European principles as a condition for stability and legitimacy within the bloc.

Other notable participants at the Lublin event included Dariusz Stefaniuk, Anna Baluch, and professor Zbigniew Krysiak. The European Parliament elections were set to be held in Poland, with a sizable delegation expected to be elected. The gathering underscored the party’s emphasis on national sovereignty, security, and agricultural policy as central themes for voters ahead of the polls.

As the campaign progressed, observers noticed a persistent focus on safeguarding national interests within the broader European context, with emphasis on defense, borders, and the tension between national autonomy and continental integration. The discussions reflected a broader debate about the EU’s future and its institutions, especially in the lead-up to elections and potential shifts in political power across Europe.

In summary, the meeting highlighted a strong stance against further EU centralization, prioritizing NATO and transatlantic cooperation, defending Poland’s agricultural sector against external policy shifts, and emphasizing the role of sovereign states within a cooperative European framework. The event underscored the ongoing political divide over the EU’s future structure and the balance between national sovereignty and regional integration.