EU Defence Resolution. The PiS and the Confederacy voted against it

Opposition by the Law and the Confederation

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the White Paper on the future of European defence, which contained an amendment recognising the Shield of the East, a draft by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as a key component of the EU's common security.

After the vote in Polish politics, a considerable controversy broke out. Representatives of the ruling coalition, including Deputy Minister of Defense, and any political commentators criticized PiS and Confederacy MPs for alleged voting against Poland. Minister Adam Sz Trapka cast a vote against the designation of the Shield of the East as a flagship project, however, Michał Dworzyk of the Law and Justice Department explained that they truly supported the amendment concerning the Shield of the East, but not entirely.

Translation of opponents

Mr Dworczyk opposed the draft European Defence Union, arguing that the safety of the associate States was assured by NATO and that defence was the exclusive competence of the States. He believes that the resolution weakens NATO by proposing to make structures outside the alliance, which, in the face of the war in Ukraine, is simply a step backwards, alternatively of strengthening defence and operational cooperation. Dworzyk pointed out that specified actions could foster the implementation of Russian plans to divide and weaken NATO.

President Jarosław Kaczyński besides referred to the resolution on Wednesday:

Independence is your own currency, your own budget, your own military. Giving up the ability to decide our safety is losing sovereignty.

In presenting his position, Kaczyński stated that the vote in the European Parliament did not concern the actual task "Tarchy East", which, in his opinion, has been simply an image initiative for months. The president besides considers that this is another case of EU interference in the competences of the associate States, without Treaty bases, undermining the primacy of the Polish Constitution over European law, as was the fresh opinion of the TEU.

Source: X

Further part inactive in March

In the second half of March, the European Commission will present the White Paper on Defence, which will include proposals for joint defence projects that may be considered flagship. Decisions on this issue will be taken by EU leaders at summits in late March and June.

At the initiative of Members of the Civic Platform, the resolution includes an amendment to include the Shield of the East among these projects. She was supported by the PiS Members, but later voted against the full resolution.