Poland Faces Tensions Over EU Nature Restoration Rules
Countries across Europe are shaping rules around ecology, nature, and environmental protection at the European Union level. In Poland, an adviser to President Andrzej Duda warned that, as EU lawmaking moves forward, the country is beginning to lose some control over its natural resources. Paweł Sałek spoke to the PAP Studio on Wednesday, stressing that this shift could pose accountability challenges for both state and government leaders.
Earlier, the European Union’s Environment Council convened in Luxembourg. Poland was represented by Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński. The discussions covered the Nature Restoration Act and the standards for CO2 emissions from heavy commercial vehicles, alongside the Air Quality Directive. In a notable vote, Poland joined several other nations in abstaining or voting against, while the Council advanced a general approach on the regulation aimed at restoring natural resources.
Following the decision, Sałek remarked that the enforcement of similar legal remedies might be contributing to a erosion of Poland’s grip on its own natural resources. He emphasized that such developments could complicate the governance and administrational capacity of the state.
The adviser’s comments cut across political lines. Regardless of whether the government leans right, left, or center, the issue remains that the state’s influence over national matters could be diminished as Brussels’s rules tighten. Sałek argued that the national authorities must be clear and vocal about this consequence.
According to the presidential adviser, the Nature Restoration Regulation imposes duties on Poland, including the replenishment and renewal of water resources. While the overarching goal of environmental improvement is widely regarded as important, Sałek pointed out that Poland’s starting conditions differ significantly from those of Western European countries. He noted that many Western European nations are in a position to renew their own natural resources first, before broader continental targets are pursued.
Sałek also highlighted the dynamic that exists within the former Eastern bloc, where there is concern that EU-wide targets might be imposed without sufficient consideration of local realities. He argued that Poles should not be compelled to meet EU objectives without space for national adaptation and leadership in protecting the nation’s natural resources, which have been maintained domestically.
In his assessment, conservation efforts, forest management, the rule of law, and the treatment of migrants all illustrate how EU institutions are seen to be extending their competencies into areas traditionally governed by member states. Sałek framed these actions as part of the broader Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, portraying them as measures that can directly affect national authorities in practical, sometimes aggressive ways.
The conversation underscores a broader debate about sovereignty, energy policy, and environmental stewardship within the European Union. Sałek’s comments reflect a call for stronger national governance and a demand for clearer boundaries between EU-level regulations and national prerogatives. The discussion continues to shape the evolving relationship between Warsaw and Brussels as environmental rules become increasingly central to policy discussions across the continent.
Note: This article reflects statements and positions reported by PAP and published by wPolityce. The analysis focuses on the implications of EU environmental legislation for Poland and the potential impact on national governance and resource management.