About: Poland
EU takes Poland to court over law ‘undermining’ judges
The European Commission said on Wednesday (31 March) it is taking Poland to the European Court of Justice over a reform it says undermines the country's judicial independence. Poland brushed it off, saying it had "no legal or factual justification".
Prohibitive prices, lack of support slowing uptake of biological pesticides in Poland
On the back of an increasing body of research pointing to their harmful effects, the EU is gearing up to slash the use and risk of pesticides in half by 2030. But alternatives are currently expensive and poorly promoted in Poland. EURACTIV Poland reports.
‘It’s hard, we’re neighbours’: the coalmine polluting friendships on Poland’s borders
Czechs and Germans who live in the shadow of the vast Turów mine claim it is an environmental menace. Some in Poland want to weaponise its defence. EURACTIV’s media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Poland, others step up push for gas in EU green finance rules: document
Poland, Bulgaria and seven other countries have stepped up their push to ensure natural gas is classed as a sustainable investment under EU finance rules, warning Brussels its latest proposal falls short, a document seen by Reuters showed.
Commission may face trouble over rule of law conditionality guidelines
The European Commission faces a tight deadline to present its rule of law guidelines following the European Parliament's move to hurry along the application of the regulation that ties the disbursement of bloc funds to the rule of law situation in EU countries.
Belarus takes ethnic Poles ‘hostage’, Polish PM says
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called on Belarusian authorities to stop harassing Poles living in the country after a minority activist was sentenced to 15 days in jail earlier this week. The issue will be raised at today's EU summit, the Polish PM said.
Macron, Orban urge EU to ‘actively support’ nuclear power
A group of seven European leaders fronted by French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the European Commission to stop hindering nuclear power and consider ways of bringing atomic energy into the EU’s green finance rule book ahead of an EU summit on Thursday (25 March).
Poland ‘lacking beds everywhere’ as new COVID-19 cases peak
Poland's government said on Wednesday (24 March) it was considering sending COVID-19 patients from regions where hospitals are under severe strain to areas where more hospital beds are available after new cases hit a record daily high of almost 30,000.
EU Commission faces lawsuit unless it acts fast on rule of law conditionality
The European Parliament is set to pass a resolution warning that it will sue the European Commission unless the EU executive arm applies new legislation that makes access to billions of EU funds conditional on respecting the rule of law.
How carbon pricing is driving the renovation of Czech homes
Like other European countries, the Czech Republic’s buildings are in need of renovation. Unlike others, it partly funds renovation programmes with revenues generated from the emission trading scheme (ETS), an experiment that could be replicated across the EU.
Controversial lobbyists raise eyebrows in Strasbourg
A non-profit group has been raising eyebrows in the Council of Europe for its questionable lobbying activities, a British lawmaker told EURACTIV.
Poland, Hungary win court fight against EU Commission over turnover taxes
Europe's top court ruled on Monday (16 March) that Polish and Hungarian taxes on turnover targeted by the EU Commission for giving an unfair advantage to small businesses over their bigger, foreign rivals were legal.
Council of Europe voices concern on Polish media laws
Europe's top human rights body on Tuesday (16 March) voiced concern over two draft media laws in Poland and warned about the possible "suffocation of independent media outlets".
Hungary, Poland refer controversial rule of law mechanism to court
Hungary and Poland have launched legal action at the European Court of Justice (EJC) against the regulation tying the disbursement of bloc funds to the rule of law situation in EU countries, the court said on Thursday (11 March).
Snubbing Rosneft, Poland signs deal with ExxonMobil on oil supplies
Polish oil refiner PKN Orlen has signed a contract with US ExxonMobil under which it will import around 1 million tonnes of crude oil within a year, it said on Tuesday (9 March).
French minister says Poland stymied his visit to ‘LGBT-free’ zone
French Europe Minister Clément Beaune said he was dissuaded by Polish authorities from visiting what he called an “LGBT-free zone” in defence of civil liberties on a trip to Poland, but the government in Warsaw denied it had blocked access.
EU court tells Polish judges to ignore national laws breaking bloc law
Judges applying to join Poland’s Supreme Court should have the right to appeal against the opinions of a body which reviews candidates, the EU’s top court said on Tuesday (2 March), underlining a rift over the rule of law between Warsaw and Brussels.
Lithuania to start supplying LNG to Poland next year
Lithuanian state-controlled energy company Ignitis Group will start supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Poland next year when a new pipeline between the two countries comes online, its CEO said on Monday (1 March).
EU advisors and Poland’s PGE increase pressure over gas in green finance rules
The European Commission came under new pressure on Monday (22 February) from Poland's biggest power producer, PGE, and its own advisors, over whether to include gas power in EU rules on sustainable finance.
Czech coal mining regions confronted with ‘hidden’ energy poverty
While Czech coal mining regions supply heat and electricity to the whole country, local people are often unable to afford heating their own homes, researchers say. More broadly, Czechia is struggling to meet its EU reporting obligations on energy poverty, an issue common to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
EU urges five countries to codify anti-racism law
The European Commission on Thursday (18 February) told five EU countries -- Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Poland and Sweden -- to quickly put a 2008 EU law against racism into their statutes.
‘Low hanging fruit’: Eastern EU states eye existing gas network for hydrogen
Existing gas networks should be repurposed to transport hydrogen and help boost demand, said Michał Kurtyka, Polish Minister of Climate and Environment at an online event about hydrogen in Central and Eastern Europe on Friday (12 February).
Message to the government: Poland needs a new Marshall Plan
An unprecedented alliance of Polish environmental NGOs and business associations denounce a lack of transparency and misleading signals in the energy transition. They are challenging the Polish prime minister to publish the national recovery plan as soon as possible and drive the transition to a climate neutral future, writes Marcin Korolec.