About: Poland
The Brief, powered by the Martens Centre – Mind the gap (or lose)
Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) is on track for a remarkable re-election win this Sunday, in what many call the country’s most fateful ballot in years.
Tokarczuk’s Nobel is good news for Polish liberals ahead of Sunday’s vote
With this award, Europeans can see how strong, powerful, but most of all, resourceful, the liberal Poland is, writes Piotr Maciej Kaczyński.
Commission refers Poland to top EU court over treatment of judiciary
The European Commission referred Poland to the EU's Court of Justice on Thursday (10 (October) in order to "protect judges from political control" enforced by Poland's ruling conservative PiS party.
Jourova: ’I don’t want us to come back to the pre-1989 era’
Věra Jourová, the European Commission's Vice-President elect for Values and Transparency, gave the good example on 9 October by meeting with Brussels journalists to talk about her future portfolio, answering their questions openly and making some strong political statements.
Poland’s ruling right-wing party banks on child subsidy to win election
Maria Kolsut will be thinking about her financial security when she votes for Poland's ruling right-wing party in Sunday's parliamentary election.
US to help secure Baltic energy grid against cyber-attacks
The United States and Baltic states on Sunday (6 October) agreed to beef up cooperation to protect the Baltic energy grid from cyber-attacks as they disconnect from the Russian electricity grid.
EU divisions over Russia mount as France, Germany seek peace in Ukraine
French and German attempts to end the conflict in east Ukraine risk increasing tensions that were already rising in the European Union over how to handle Russia and which could complicate peace efforts.
Wojciechowski’s poor performance adds to von der Leyen’s woes
If Polish Commission-nominee Janus Wojciechowski ultimately gets rejected by the European Parliament after his hearing on Tuesday (1 October), it will not be for political reasons, but simply because his performance was so disappointing.
Poland’s double-game on defence matters
Poland's decision to buy American F-35 aircraft sounds like Warsaw snubbing European projects. However, the EU member state, is also in breach of its commitments, writes Nicholas Gros-Verheyde.
Choreography of a climate deal
A deal with Poland on 2050 climate neutrality is in sight, writes Brook Riley.
EU grills Hungary over rule of law concerns
EU affairs ministers grilled Hungary on Monday (16 September) over Prime Minister Viktor Orban's tightening of restrictions around free media, judges, academics, minorities and rights groups, which the bloc worries weakens democracy in the ex-communist country.
Poland’s ruling party plans to allow arrests of MPs and judges
Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS/ECR) announced its election program at the weekend, under which there would no longer be immunity for judges and prosecutors and it would be possible to detain parliamentarians at the request of the prosecutor general.
Poland and Germany call for swift negotiations to conclude EU budget
Germany and Poland are pressing for EU budget negotiations to be concluded as quickly as possible. For Poland, the primary beneficiary of the EU's cohesion policy, there is a great deal at stake. Germany hopes the negotiations will finish before it takes over the EU presidency next July. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Brussels unlikely to appeal EU court decision hampering Nord Stream pipelines
The EU executive is unlikely to appeal a decision of the EU General Court in Luxembourg on Tuesday (10 September) to restrict the transit of Russian gas via the Opal pipeline, running on German territory.
Poland’s foreign ministry condemns attack on Israeli students
Poland's foreign ministry on Sunday (8 September) condemned violence against a group of Israeli students beaten at a Warsaw nightclub early on Saturday, following criticism that Polish leaders are not doing enough to denounce antisemitism.
Timmermans clashes with Polish MEPs on rule of law
If we do not step up efforts to defend the rule of law, the EU will be at risk, outgoing Rule of Law Commissioner Frans Timmermans told EU lawmakers on Thursday (5 September), followed by a confrontation between the Dutchman and Polish MEPs from the country's governing Law and Justice (PiS) party.
US and Poland 5G agreement an ‘example for Europe’, Pence says
The US and Poland have signed a joint declaration to collaborate on 5G security in what US Vice President Mike Pence said would "set a vital example for the rest of Europe."
At WWII anniversary, Germany asks forgiveness while Poland demands compensations
Germany's president asked for forgiveness for his country on Sunday (1 September) for the suffering of the Polish people during World War Two as Poland marked 80 years since the Nazi German invasion that unleashed the deadliest conflict in human history.
Pence in Warsaw: US still strongly supports Ukraine’s Crimea claim
US Vice President Mike Pence reassured Ukraine on Sunday (1 September) that Washington continues to back its claim for Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, even as US President Donald Trump mulls cutting aid to the European nation.
Zelenskiy slams Nord Stream 2 as Ukraine seeks LNG gas from the US
Ukraine's president on Saturday (31 August) slammed the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline set to send Russian gas to Germany as a "threat" to Europe and welcomed moves by Kyiv to tap into US gas supplies.
Trump skips trip to Poland as hurricane approaches Florida
US President Donald Trump abruptly called off a weekend trip to Poland on Thursday (29 August), saying he wanted to stay home and make sure the federal government is prepared for a looming hurricane headed for Florida.
Trump goes to Warsaw for sombre commemoration
US President Donald Trump, fresh from hob-nobbing with his G7 partners at a glitzy French resort town, will on Sunday (1 September) attend sombre commemorations in Warsaw of the outbreak of World War II 80 years ago.
Von der Leyen offers Poland agriculture portfolio, candidate withdraws
Ursula von der Leyen, the incoming president of the European Commission, has offered Poland the agriculture portfolio in her new executive. But designated Polish pick Krzysztof Szczerski ruled himself out of the running and withdrew his candidacy.