The European Parliament’s vice president, Ewa Kopacz, indicated on Sunday that Poland intends to push for its nation to hold the post of EU Commissioner for Defense in the upcoming term. She noted that she knows people with experience in both defense and foreign policy and could serve as strong candidates for this role.
When PAP asked where Poland should focus its influence in the EU’s leadership lineup for the new term, the former prime minister highlighted security concerns.
These are challenging times, marked by a war on Poland’s eastern border. Kopacz said that Poland would strive to appoint a defense commissioner who can craft peacetime plans while also identifying and mitigating current threats.
She added that such a candidate would be nominated by the Prime Minister of Poland.
As a politician, Kopacz stated that she knows people who have practical experience in both defense and foreign policy.
Asked by PAP what the EU’s common defense policy should look like, she replied that strength comes from unity and collaboration. She suggested that arms production could be optimized by distributing capabilities among member states, with some nations excelling in drone manufacturing and others, like Poland, focusing on propellants and firearms.
When queried about reconciling this approach with ongoing arms purchases, such as the deal with South Korea initiated by the previous government, Kopacz admitted she was not an expert in that area. She allowed that, in her view, a number of missteps occurred in recent years, arguing that Poland’s defense industry had suffered damage under earlier administrations.
Kopacz also commented on EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, calling him a driver of the Green Deal. She argued that his inconsistencies and occasional problematic proposals illustrate why a stable, consistently effective commissioner would better serve Poland.
Regarding the Green Deal itself, she rejected the notion that her party was distancing from the policy. She stressed that the stance is not about disconnection but about sharpening the civilization challenge and improving the framework in a way that benefits citizens.
Kopacz emphasized that it is not possible to ignore natural disasters or famine, noting that while such events can be influenced by climate trends, they must not be allowed to fall on citizens as a burden. Citizens deserve clear explanations and fair compensation if they bear costs related to future risks.
Farmers, too, have a point. Kopacz observed that Polish farmers are protesting loudly because food affordability matters. She noted that weather patterns affect crop yields; frost can drive up prices for fruits such as cherries when bad weather occurs at unusual times, a signal of climate change in action.
To ensure healthy, affordable food, she suggested easing some Green Deal restrictions while leaning on domestic producers to strengthen supply chains.
In the campaign trail in Greater Poland, Kopacz ran as the Civic Coalition’s top candidate for the European Parliament and visited Szamotuły as part of a broader outreach effort. Her silence on a possible name for the Defense Commissioner post is left open to interpretation, with questions lingering about whether Sikorski might be a favored contender.
Source: wPolityce
The report reflects Kopacz’s own remarks and positions, as captured by the Polish press agency and subsequent commentary.