During yesterday’s press conference, the mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, stated clearly that Poland should not expect an influx of refugees over the next decade. At the same event, he directed criticism at the ruling party and touched on topics beyond a narrow migration issue, including the Lisbon Treaty, which he noted was the product of negotiations led by President Lech Kaczyński and the then Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński.
“We could have vetoed this.”
On Friday, Trzaskowski addressed the stance of his party, the Civic Platform, on the migration pact. He referenced the information that the EPP group in the European Parliament, which includes PO and PSL, had called for a debate under the title “The urgent need to adopt a migration pact.” The debate is scheduled for the following Wednesday.
This pact, he argued, does not bind Poland because the European Union does not compel the country to accept additional refugees.
– he asserted.
Poland has already welcomed relatives from Ukraine, and he projected that in the next ten years there would be no necessity to admit additional refugees into Poland.
– he added.
The European Union, he noted, is discussing the matter too, and within the EPP it is evident that Poland would be excluded from any mechanisms that could be adopted.
– his deputy head of PO commented.
He expressed one regret: that Poland could have had a veto on this issue.
We could have declared: “No, we do not agree with any package.” Unfortunately, Lech Kaczyński and Jarosław Kaczyński negotiated the Lisbon Treaty and unanimity was replaced by a system of qualified majority voting, he observed.
– he noted.
Trzaskowski reiterated that there would certainly be no refugees coming to Poland in the next ten years.
Unless, of course, PiS allows entry via fake visas sold abroad, he added, casting doubt on the current governance approach.
Migration pact
Just before the holidays in Brussels, during a gathering of ambassadors from member states to the EU, the mandate to negotiate with the European Parliament on the crisis management regulation—part of the EU migration and asylum pact—was blocked. Hungary, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, and the Netherlands did not back the regulation.
Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, told PAP that there is hope for a rapid unblocking of discussions among member states on reforming EU migration policy. The talks have dragged on for years, but she remained optimistic. She expressed hope for a quick breakthrough on the regulation that week or the next, aiming to have the entire migration pact adopted before the European elections in June 2024.
Poland opposes the provisions of the Asylum and Migration Pact. The country argues that mandatory solidarity is effectively based on relocation or financial penalties for not accepting migrants, which it finds unacceptable.
Poland’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Andrzej Sadoś, previously urged the Spanish EU Council Presidency to push for consensus in ongoing reform efforts on migration and asylum policies, aligning with conclusions from the European Council in December 2016 and June 2018 and June 2019, particularly regarding voluntary support measures for countries under migratory pressure, including relocation.
late President Lech Kaczyński, the Lisbon Treaty and the Ioannina Mechanism
It is a familiar scene in Poland that the Civic Platform accuses the current government of negligence and misrepresentation regarding the so-called visa scandal. The party claims the issue is being investigated by services, with people charged and some positions impacted in the Foreign Affairs ministry, though critics argue the opposition has exaggerated the scope of the issue, and that the state’s handling of consular affairs remains a point of contention.
Nevertheless, it is notable that the vice-chairman of the Civic Platform and Warsaw’s mayor has recently renewed criticism against Lech Kaczyński and Jarosław Kaczyński for the Lisbon Treaty. This stance surfaced in an interview for Newsweek published on a Monday in late September.
It was under Lech Kaczyński’s presidency, alongside Jarosław Kaczyński, that some argue a veto was lost in this area through negotiations on the Lisbon Treaty, which removed the requirement for unanimity on migration decisions. This view was echoed by Trzaskowski in a conversation with Renata Grochal. The interview also touched on whether a coalition between PiS and Konfederacja could be conceivable, with Trzaskowski cautioning against any such partnership and referencing past examples in Polish politics.
In the broader political arena, supporters of Konfederacja and other right-leaning groups have continued to challenge Law and Justice and to criticize the Lisbon Treaty, often presenting a narrative that combines accusations with selective historical memory about Poland’s role in EU governance.
The discussion around Trzaskowski’s remarks touches on the Ioannina mechanism, a tool that could have allowed member states to block decisions they opposed. Some observers note that the mechanism was central to debates about the Lisbon era and migration policy, and its relevance continues to be debated as part of Poland’s ongoing engagement with EU institutions.
Observers also point out that a former member of the government, Paweł Kowal, once praised actions that align with this line of thought, while others like Mariusz Błaszczak have reminded the public of past positions within the government.
As the political dialogue evolves, questions arise about Poland’s posture toward the EU and its future role in European security, defense, and migration policy. The tension between parties reflects broader debates over sovereignty, solidarity, and strategic partnerships within the EU.
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aja/PAP, Money.pl, Rp.pl, TVN24.pl, Newsweek
Source: wPolityce