Poland's EU presidency under review: efficient but cautious

Key deliverables included the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), East Shield funding eligibility, three rounds of Russia sanctions and progress on Montenegro's EU accession.

Polish gov't wins confidence vote but presidential veto remains

2 min read Sejm, Donald Tusk, Karol Nawrocki, PiS, KO, Donald Trump, European Commission, EU, Andrzej Duda

Tusk acknowledged the expected use of veto by President-elect Nawrocki, as did outgoing President Andrzej Duda during the first 18 months of the KO's term. The KO does not have the 3/5 supermajority, or 276 out of 460 seats, needed to overturn a presidential veto.c

Poland leads EU troop training effort for Ukraine

2 min read EUMAM, European External Action Service, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland, Ukraine, Operation Interflex, czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, PiS, KO, Montenegro

Polish Deputy PM and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in April that Poland’s defence strategy prioritises frontline support and rapid capacity building. He added that Poland “will not turn anyone away” from its training centres, including non-combat personnel.

Nawrocki elected Polish president, cementing power of veto for right-wing

3 min read Nawrocki, Trzaskowski, Poland, PiS, KO, Tusk, Duda, European Commission

The result will extend Law and Justice (PiS) party influence over the presidency and its continued obstruction of the "big tent" pro-EU governing Civic Coalition (KO) led by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Centrist takes first round of Poland’s presidential election, to face nationalist in runoff vote

2 min read Duda, KO, Nawrocki, PiS, Trzaskowski, Tusk, EU, Poland, Politics, V4 & Romania

Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly won in the first round of Poland’s presidential election, setting up a closely contested runoff on 1 June. With 99.75% of votes counted, Trzaskowski, backed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition (KO) secured 31.3% on 18 May

Polish eurozone enthusiasm falls - poll finds

2 min read Economy, News by country, Poland, V4 & Romania, euro, Karnowski, PiS, Rzonnca, Tusk

Support for introducing the euro in Poland has decreased in the last year, pollster SW Research found, in a survey commissioned by the Economic Freedom Foundation. The proportion of Poles who back joining the eurozone in Poland “in the coming years” decreased year-on-year, from 34.9% in 2023 to 30.

PiS places first in Polish local elections as KO fails to deliver knockout blow

3 min read Poland, Duda, European Union, KO, PiS, Tusk

Nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), toppled last year after eight years in power by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO) grouping, came first in the country’s local government elections, an exit poll showed Sunday, 7 April. The election is seen as a bellwether for

Poland unlocks over EUR 100bn in EU funds

2 min read Economy, Poland, Duda, PiS, Tusk, Ursula von der Leyen

As of next week Poland can begin to access the around EUR 60bn of previously suspended COVID:19 pandemic and green funding and some EUR 76.5bn from EU cohesion funds, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen announced after meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on

Huge crowd in Warsaw protests ruling party ahead of autumn election

4 min read Poland, demonstrations, opposition, PiS, Tusk

A massive mobilisation of Polish opposition voters and leaders estimated at up to half a million people took to the streets of Warsaw to protest the country’s nationalist government on Sunday, 4 June, Gazeta Wyborcza reported. Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) party is currently seven percentage