Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that the government will file a complaint against the agreement concluded between the European Union and the Mercosur countries with the Court of Justice of the European Union. “We, as the first Polish government, have been saying a firm NO from the very beginning!” Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski argued on the X platform. His words were met with a response from Law and Justice (PiS) MP Anna Gembicka. “A lie has short legs. We blocked Mercosur at the EU level in 2019,” she stressed.
The head of the Ministry of National Defence and leader of the Polish People’s Party (PSL) announced on Friday that the government would submit a complaint regarding the agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay) to the CJEU. He noted that he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski.
“We believe that food security, consumer safety, and the protection of our domestic market are at risk,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Asked about the announcement, Donald Tusk said he had discussed the issue with the European Commission.
“I spoke and informed the Commission in advance that we would be going to the Court with Mercosur as a government, so that they would not treat it as a personal attack against them,” said Tusk. He added that the complaint results from the Polish government’s assessment of the situation.
Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski also posted about the matter on X, claiming that it was actually the Law and Justice (PiS) government that had wanted the Mercosur agreement.
“Our predecessors wanted the #Mercosur agreement. We, as the first Polish government, have been saying a firm NO from the very beginning! From day one, I have been building a blockade. The President was supposed to help, but he did not convince Italy. We are doing our job: we have safeguard clauses, tight borders, and we are opening new markets for Polish products! As promised – WE ARE FILING A COMPLAINT! Earlier, our MEPs submitted a motion to the CJEU. There are no compromises. We always stand in defense of Polish farmers and consumers!” wrote the politician from the December 13 coalition.
His post was answered by Law and Justice (PiS) MP Anna Gembicka, who pointed out what she described as a lie.
“A lie has short legs. We blocked Mercosur at the EU level in 2019, and it was under your government that the agreement was adopted and, according to Commission communications, it will come into force on May 1,” she stressed.
“You wasted Poland’s EU presidency; within your priorities you did not mention blocking Mercosur even once; when there was a chance to create a minority, Tusk said that this agreement was safe for Polish farmers; safeguard clauses change nothing because they are not included in the agreement, and the Trade Commissioner explicitly stated that thanks to them the processing of the agreement was accelerated”, she added.
“If it were not for the pressure from farmers, PiS politicians, and the President, you would not have filed the complaint. Just a moment ago, your boss wrote that there was no need for it,” she noted.