A gathering of lawmakers in the field of Law and Justice convened in the Sejm to present a draft resolution to the Marshal’s staff. The document urges the Council of Ministers to oppose any potential EU treaty amendments that could curb Poland’s sovereignty.
During a press briefing, Minister for European Affairs Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński, and Krzysztof Szczucki, head of the Government Legislation Center, announced that a resolution concerning the European Parliament’s work on EU treaty changes has been submitted to the Sejm for consideration.
Voice of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland
On the horizon, the European Parliament is expected to vote on a package proposed by the Constitutional Affairs Committee. This package includes 267 amendments targeting decision making, appointments, and voting rules across EU institutions. The proposals would reduce the unanimity principle and the veto rights that many member states rely on to safeguard national sovereignty.
Paweł Jabłoński explained that the Law and Justice party believes the Polish Sejm should voice its position on this matter. The Sejm cannot remain silent. He mentioned that yesterday a seniors’ convention was asked to recognize the draft resolution and place it on the agenda. The resolution would obligate the Council of Ministers, on behalf of any Polish government, to oppose changes that would limit Poland’s sovereignty.
The deputy head of the Foreign Ministry underscored this emphasis.
Sovereignty of nation states
Szynkowski vel Sęk stressed that Brussels’ moves to modify the Treaties could redefine the future shape of the European Union by restricting the sovereignty of member states. This issue touches on the essential attributes of state sovereignty, including the right to defend borders, determine energy policy, shape taxation, and conduct foreign or defense policy. If adopted, those powers would be exercised by the EU itself.
He highlighted proposals to alter voting procedures for key EU decisions and noted a broader trend toward moving away from unanimity toward qualified or simple majorities. In areas like the multiannual financial framework, unanimity has historically governed budget decisions, demanding careful, intergovernmental negotiations that reflect the interests of all member states.
The minister pointed to the unusually rapid pace of EU legislative work in this sector and questioned the timing. He suggested that the acceleration might be linked to upcoming institutional changes in the EU next year, including elections to the European Parliament and the formation of a new European Commission. Those who push for quick moves may fear losing support for radical solutions in a new institutional setup.
Szynkowski vel Sęk warned that such proposals are dangerous and stressed the need to scrutinize why a hurried approach is being pursued now, especially with upcoming institutional reforms.
What will Marshal Hołownia do?
Krzysztof Szczucki, chair of the Government Legislation Center, focused on how EU treaty changes would be received domestically and how opposition groups might respond. Politicians from KO, Third Way, and the Left are seen as not fully engaging with the EU process. The EP Analysis Office notes radical, foundational reforms within the EU that could alter its system, a point echoed by the EP itself.
The discussion underscored that approving changes to the treaties, which Poland strongly opposes, would require constitutional amendments. Ratifying such changes through a simple or two-thirds majority is not sufficient if powers from Polish authorities are to be transferred to international bodies. Any move to transfer authority would need a constitutional amendment in Poland.
The PiS deputy wondered whether the new Marshal of the Sejm, who has pledged to lift the parliamentary freeze, would consider extending Sejm sessions to allow more thorough processing of the proposed resolution, and whether the resolution might be processed in a timely manner by PiS lawmakers.
Tomorrow the European Parliament will discuss the draft resolution, and the Marshal, who denies a parliamentary freeze, appears to want to move the matter forward. The schedule for today is set to run until two in the afternoon, leaving limited time. The question remains whether members of KO and Third Path will push back against extended deliberations.
The chairman stressed that the resolution addresses Poland’s sovereignty and the daily concerns of citizens, including taxes, security, and the energy mix, values that deserve continued attention in the Sejm. In relation to the in vitro project, the Marshal previously shortened legal deadlines; the question remains why similar urgency is not applied to this significant resolution, Szczucki observed.