About: Poland
Is the EU Just Transition Fund all for naught?
Whether €5 billion or €35 billion, the EU’s upcoming Just Transition Fund alone is unlikely to be enough to pay for the energy transition of Europe’s remaining coal countries. Nor is it necessary, argue Pieter de Pous and Rebekka Popp.
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.
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.
How to fix Eastern Europe’s problem with 2050 climate neutrality
A radical, one might say populist, solution to solve the Eastern blockade on climate neutrality would be to set up a European Climate Solidarity Fund, writes István Bart.
The Visegrad 4 and Russian pipelines: An imaginary unity
The Nord Stream II pipeline gave birth to a seemingly united front among several Central and Eastern European states objecting to the project, including Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. That, however, is far from the truth, writes Martin Jirušek.
Visegrad4: From a provincial energy debate to joint action for renewables
The V4 group of countries ignores climate threats, attempts to extend fossil fuel burning, violates air pollution limits and undermines the development of renewable energies. The Visegrad+ Renewable Energy platform has been established to turn this trend around, writes Ada Ámon.
Strengthening EU rule of law protection: start with freedom of expression
This Tuesday, during the General Affairs Council, ministers of foreign affairs will get a presentation by the Commission about a new Communication on the rule of law. Rather than just listen, ministers should show they are committed to backing up talk with immediate action, write Gráinne de Búrca and John Morijn.
Future of the Eastern Partnership: The Polish view
An “Association Agreements plus” with a secretariat, a rotating presidency, and the creation of a regional economic area. These could be the next steps for the "Eastern Partnership" (EaP) launched 10 years ago, writes Prof. Jacek Czaputowicz.
Fallout from the Kaczynski Twin Towers scandal
The public image of Poland’s political mastermind Jarosław Kaczyński and his ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party was shattered by revelations published by the Gazeta Wyborcza daily on Tuesday (29 January). Piotr Kaczyński (unrelated to the PiS leader) looks into the fallout.
Russian Orthodoxy, a security issue in Ukraine
The politico-spiritual move away from Russian Orthodoxy, presented by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko as a major national security issue, has deeply angered Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has political ambitions in the region, writes Willy Fautré.
Mussels, health, and Baltic tourism. What do they have in common?
Initiatives like the Baltic Sea Region combine the unusual and predictable in developing people’s sense of shared responsibility for the development of their home regions, writes Jerzy Kwieciński.
The migrants are coming to Poland. Let’s welcome them
Polish deputy minister for development, Paweł Chorąży, left government because he said a banal and obvious thing: Without immigrants in Poland, there will be not enough hands to work and no economic growth. Rather than demonise them, the government should welcome the newcomers, writes Bartosz T. Wieliński.
An EU anti-smog fund for Poland
Poland has some of the worst air quality in the EU. But fighting smog is expensive. The Modernisation Fund set up as part of the Emissions Trading Scheme could help here, writes Joanna Maćkowiak-Pandera.
Mega infrastructure projects win over clean energy in Visegrad Four
In the Visegrad countries, decision makers prefer their historical favourites – coal and nuclear – to renewable sources and energy efficiency. As the Global Climate Action Summit resumes in San Francisco, it’s important to realise that corporate leadership can also shape the outlook for clean energy in Eastern Europe, writes Ada Ámon.
Orban in Jerusalem: Challenging days for Europe-Israel relations
Endorsing Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban symbolizes a moral failure for modern-day Zionism. Straying from the high moral standards upon which Israel was established could become a real threat to the existence and well-being of Israel as we know it, and of world Jewry, writes Raanan Eliaz.
The untapped potential of EU-NATO cooperation
EU-NATO cooperation is a good framework for bringing Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and others, closer to the Alliance, and improving their security, writes Andreas Marazis.
Ireland’s Yes vote ushers in a new era for women’s rights in Europe
EU institutions should be emboldened to take concrete actions to defend reproductive freedom across the whole of Europe after Irish citizens voted massively in favour of repealing the country’s abortion ban, writes Caroline Hickson.
European elections in the era of disruption
To some extent the vote next May will be a test of the resilience of the forces of disruption, the main achievement of whom so far being Brexit, writes Geoffrey Harris.
Poland’s transport sector searches for top gear
The EU is rolling out more and more initiatives to boost e-mobility and the use of alternative fuels. Poland’s secretary of state for energy explains how his country is tackling the transport sector with an ambitious new plan.
Conditionality for protecting the rule of law: Will it fly?
The idea of making EU funding conditional with respect of the rule of law seems logical as legislatives changes adopted in Hungary and Poland are worrisome. But will it tackle the root of the problem? Ramona Coman and Nathalie Brack have the answer.
When disability becomes a death sentence
MEPs condemn 'mercy killing' in other countries, but are turning a blind eye to European abortion laws that discriminate against foetuses on the grounds of disability, writes Alice Neffe.
Clean air for everyone – Poland challenges smog
Environmental protection and the fight for clean air are global challenges in today’s world. Poland’s entrepreneurship and technology minister explains how her country is doing its bit to overcome air quality challenges.