A citizens’ initiative titled in defense of Polish forests has drawn nearly half a million signatures. This milestone is presented as a victory for those who insist Poland should retain exclusive state control over its woodlands. The statement came from the leadership of Solidarna Polska on Wednesday, who argued that the European Union’s reach extends far beyond current borders.
Solidarna Polska lawmakers announced the submission of a citizens’ bill aimed at protecting forests in response to proposals to shift forestry powers from national to EU competence. The party leader indicated that the new bill would prevent such shifts by ensuring that any treaty amendment would require the consent of the Polish Sejm and a two-thirds majority of voters.
On Wednesday, Solidarna Polska representatives reiterated that they had gathered signatures to back the forest defense measure.
These signatures represent nearly five hundred thousand supporters who favor Poland exercising sole governance over its forests. The party framed this effort as a major success by foresters, Solidarna Polska, and all Poles who prize the country’s timber heritage and sovereignty over forest management, speaking at a press conference.
According to the party leader, the European Union’s initiatives are extensive. He framed the issue as a coalition of pseudo-environmental agitation alongside hard, calculated economic interests of Western firms, including German companies that would face tougher competition from a Polish timber industry rooted in high-quality Polish wood and striving to keep Poland economically strong.
He asserted that such plans should not be allowed to proceed. The rapid mobilization—about five hundred thousand Poles within roughly a week—signified strong public conviction. He stated that no external actor would be able to ignore this broad support for the initiative.
– said the head of Solidarna Polska.
The initiative goes to the Sejm
Deputy Justice Minister Michał Woś confirmed that the legislative measure to defend forests, along with the collected signatures, would be submitted to the Sejm. He expressed optimism that the first reading would occur under the current legislative term.
Woś thanked everyone who helped gather the signatures and explained that the initiative would effectively block efforts to transfer forestry powers from member states to the European level, thereby preserving Poland’s current competencies in forestry at the national level.
In recent days there has been significant public debate, with some figures criticizing foresters and accusing opponents of spreading misinformation. Critics claimed that certain political actors were pursuing a privatization agenda behind a Eurocentric policy. Supporters countered that there is a real procedural path within the European Parliament aimed at modifying treaties so that forestry falls under shared EU and member state competences, a change requiring unanimous approval from all EU members.
As of January, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee had delivered a positive opinion on amendments to treaties that would shift forestry from national to shared competence. The process for treaty changes remains unanimous among member states, which adds a layer of complexity to any such shift.
Regarding the petition, the requirement stands: 100,000 signatures are needed to bring the bill before the Sejm, and the first reading must occur within three months of its submission.
Source discussions and pundit commentary continue to circulate widely, highlighting polarized perspectives on Poland’s forest policy and the potential implications for the state’s heritage and economic interests. These developments are part of a broader debate about how national sovereignty interacts with broader European integration, particularly in areas as tangible as forest management and natural resources.