Poland’s stance on EU policy remains steadfast in defending the unanimity principle. The foreign ministry said on Sunday that Poland will not consider relinquishing rights tied to unanimous decision‑making on common foreign, security and defense policy now or in the future.
Poland’s view on unanimity in the EU
In a statement signed by Ministry spokesman Łukasz Jasina, the ministry described ongoing political proposals to move to a qualified majority voting system on foreign and security policy within the European Union.
The foreign ministry reaffirmed the position recently voiced by Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in the Polish Parliament: Poland aims to protect national freedom within the EU by vigorously defending the unanimity principle where the current legal framework guarantees it, and by following the consent-based approach when the law allows it to use qualified majority decisions.
– the ministry emphasized.
What about the EU’s common foreign and security policy?
The State Department noted that some member states are considering giving up rights tied to unanimous decision‑making on issues related to CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policy) or CSDP (Common Security and Defense Policy).
If there is a coordinated unilateral renunciation of these rights by some member states, or if moratoria curb their veto rights in EU decision‑making, Poland will respect and understand those choices as they are read.
At the same time, Poland is not considering such a decision now or in the future, according to the statement.
The document states that decisions in the EU’s CFSP and CSDP are, as a rule, based on unanimity.
Both the intergovernmental nature of these policies and the unanimity rule safeguard the interests of all EU members and ensure that each voice is heard, regardless of size or population.
They also ensure that decisions on matters of war and peace fall within the sovereign rights of each member state.
Additionally, the mechanism of constructive abstention allows members to respect national specifics without blocking the union’s overall decisions.
– notes the ministry.
“The vital role of unanimity has protected members before”
The State Department argued that the current qualified majority voting rules, which favor stronger voting blocs, do not guarantee quicker or more effective outcomes for EU foreign and security policy.
Poland’s statement emphasizes that the unanimity rule has, on several occasions, helped nations avoid strategic missteps with serious implications for EU security.
It highlights a recent controversial decision connected to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as an example. If a qualified majority had been required, the pipeline might have moved faster but could have escaped safeguards embedded in the 2019 Gas Directive amendments.
The ministry stresses that unanimity in EU decision‑making ensured that CSDP actions did not fracture the cohesion of the Euro‑Atlantic community. It prevented duplicating the NATO command chain through CSDP structures, avoided CSDP priorities conflicting with NATO goals, and discouraged investments that would not benefit the European defense sector as a whole.
A further example cited is last year’s oil price cap negotiations. Thanks to unanimity, EU member states agreed a prudent cap on Russian oil shipped by sea, helping curb revenue from Russia’s war while maintaining stability in global energy markets.
An important decision‑making mechanism
The Ministry of Diplomacy also noted that unanimity remains a key tool in negotiating exemptions on the export of potash fertilizer from Belarus, a product linked to the Lukashenko regime.
The State Department stressed that when there is real political will, unanimity can provide a true balance between pursuing national interests and finding a common denominator for action.
Therefore, the ministry noted, unanimity helped the EU mobilize the European Peace Facility to equip the Ukrainian armed forces after the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. It also enabled the rapid establishment of three important missions in recent months: EUMAM Ukraine, EUM Armenia, and EUPM Moldova.
Thanks to the unanimity principle, these missions are firmly in place and contribute to security and stability across Europe, the Foreign Ministry said.
Additionally, the EU could have launched a civilian CSDP mission with an executive mandate, such as EULEX Kosovo, without resolving the issue of recognizing Kosovo’s independence.
In summary, Poland maintains that unanimity remains a crucial mechanism in EU decision‑making, ensuring national sovereignty and collective security within the union.