“Transferring security competencies to the European Union at a time when the EU is in an identity crisis and economic chaos would not be good for the Polish state,” said Karol Nawrocki, a civic candidate for the presidency of Poland, in Brussels.
On March 12, the European Parliament voted (419 in favor, 204 against) on a resolution to strengthen the EU’s defense capabilities. Members of the European Parliament from the December 13 coalition highlighted the particular importance of Amendment 87, which recognized the “Eastern Shield” as a “flagship project of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, aimed at enhancing the common security of the Union.”
The MEPs from the December 13 coalition used the vote to launch a scathing attack on the Polish opposition. This is because both the Law and Justice (PiS) politicians and those from the Confederation voted “against” the resolution.
Not without reason. Almost immediately, the opposition explained that they had voted “in favor” of the amendment regarding the Eastern Shield but “against” the resolution. This was because the resolution contained provisions that directly undermined Polish sovereignty.
Nawrocki: Pressure Makes Sense
This morning, just before his flight to Brussels, Donald Tusk once again attacked the opposition. He continued to push the false narrative that “PiS and Confederation” voted against strengthening Poland’s eastern border. In fact, he even misspoke, calling the EP vote “Russian.”
Karol Nawrocki, a civic candidate for the Polish presidency, is also present in Brussels. As first reported by TV Republika, he met today with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Later, he spoke at a press briefing—specifically about the harmful resolution.
“I thank the MEPs from Law and Justice and the conservative side of the European Parliament for their response to the resolution on the development of EU security. Pressure makes sense because this resolution was harmful to the Polish state. Transferring security competencies to the European Union at a time when the EU is in an identity crisis and economic chaos would not be good for the Polish state,” said Dr. Nawrocki.
PiS MEPs justified their opposition to the EP resolution by rejecting—as they put it—the creation of a European defense union within NATO (effectively a NATO-bis), voting on defense matters by qualified majority, and weakening domestic defense industries.