English Section

Poland to continue drive against EU treaty changes: FM

07.12.2023 17:00
Poland will press ahead with efforts to build a coalition of countries against planned changes to European Union treaties, which are likely to be discussed by the bloc's leaders in the spring, the Polish foreign minister has said.
Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (second from left) speaks to reporters in parliament on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (second from left) speaks to reporters in parliament on Thursday, December 7, 2023. PAP/Tomasz Gzell

Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk made the declaration at a media briefing in parliament on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.  

The Polish foreign minister said he had recently visited seven European capitals to highlight "the dangers posed by the planned amendments to EU treaties."

He added that more diplomatic trips would follow in the coming days "to ensure that a whole group of countries" joins Poland in voicing opposition to the proposed treaty changes.

Szynkowski vel Sęk said the drafters of the amendments sought to have them approved at a meeting of EU environment ministers on December 18.

He added that the bloc's leaders would "discuss the planned EU treaty changes in detail" at a summit in the spring and "call a Convention for the revision of the Treaties."

Poland's top diplomat said there were also attempts to "link decisions on EU enlargement with treaty amendments."

Szynkowski vel Sęk told reporters that the push against planned changes to EU treaties "must be maintained" by the Polish government internationally and "backed by the Polish parliament."

Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party has put forward a draft resolution urging the government and Polish members of the European Parliament to oppose the planned changes to EU treaties, stating that they "pose a danger to Poland," the PAP news agency reported.

On November 22, the European Parliament adopted a set of proposals to amend EU treaties, a move designed to "give citizens a stronger say and create a more effective EU."

The main proposed changes include abolishing the principle of unanimity in the European Council in 65 policy areas, to be replaced by qualified majority voting; the transfer of powers from member states to the EU, in areas such as foreign affairs, external security and defence; and making the euro the mandatory currency for EU countries. 

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, polskieradio24.pl