Polish Forest Management and EU Powers: Debates in Polish Public Discourse
A view was voiced on a TV program that a healthy country is one where Polish forests are managed by the Polish state. It was stated that the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union does not alter Polish law and that forest management in Poland adheres to nature protection principles and does not violate them, as explained by Deputy Minister of Development Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska on TVP Info’s Woronicza 17 program.
Joining Semeniuk-Patkowska in the discussion were several notable figures: PiS Member of the European Parliament Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Prof. Andrzej Zybertowicz serving as an adviser to the President of Poland, MP Maciej Gdula from the Left, Jarosław Sachajko of Kukiz ’15, and Bożena Zelazowska from PSL. The central topics included the Warsaw waste management scandal, the arrest of Włodzimierz Karpiński, and the ECJ ruling regarding the Polish State Forests.
The question of EU authority
During the debate on the legality of the ECJ decision concerning the Polish State Forests, Prof. Zybertowicz argued that this ruling is part of a broader strategy to shift powers from national governments to the European Union. He suggested the issue is not isolated to forestry but reflects a wider pattern of centralized control. He warned that the EU’s deepening integration could occur behind an open or hidden process, through treaty changes or below the treaty level, driven by activist actors who seek to alter the rules of engagement. In recent EU discussions on the bloc’s future, he observed that top-down gatherings may be used to accelerate integration from above.
The remark was attributed to the adviser to President Duda.
The discussion then shifted to the question of sovereignty in governance. The representatives argued that the dispute is not solely about forests; it concerns control over national institutions and the sectors of the Polish economy that compete internationally. In the timber industry, Poland is highly competitive in the European market, and some participants contended that external funding channels could be used to hinder prudent state action rather than support it.
Zybertowicz also highlighted concerns about non-governmental organizations, noting that they can act as an extended arm funded by multiple countries, not all of which share Poland’s interests. He pointed to the need for careful assessment of how Western models address NGO activity, while acknowledging that Poland maintains relatively liberal rules in this area.
According to Zybertowicz, NGOs can be valuable for civil society but should not be able to impair the capacity of public authorities. He cited forestry policy as an example where Poland’s governance framework should remain robust and safeguarded from external influence that could paralyze state assets.
Third Sector
Semeniuk-Patkowska underscored that forest management falls within exclusive state competence and that any EU encroachment would be groundless. She outlined four key points: first, a healthy state relies on national control of forests; second, the ECJ judgment does not modify Polish law; third, Poland’s forest management aligns with nature protection principles; and fourth, a distinction between the state and the third sector is essential. She argued that foundations and associations, while important as opinion-forming bodies, should not delay progress or influence sectors such as furniture production that depend on forestry. The state must keep a clear line between executive authority and voluntary civil organizations.
The discussion emphasized the importance of maintaining national sovereignty in forest policy while allowing space for civic organizations to contribute constructively, without compromising the state’s ability to manage resources efficiently.
Additional context
The program touched on ongoing issues within public life and policy debates regarding forest plans, enforcement, and the balance of power between supranational institutions and national governments. The participants examined how different actors, from government officials to civil society groups, shape policy in areas that affect natural resources, industry, and the economy.