Poland has publicly opposed the European Union’s (EU) “Fit for 55” climate law. The law aims to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Still, Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawicki, claims that the legal package is being implemented through directives that should be passed unanimously, rather than by a qualified majority, which is how the EU has decided to pass them. As a result, Poland has been outvoted, and the Prime Minister says that the country has never supported any Fit for 55 package.
During a press conference on Thursday, Morawicki emphasized that Poland had fought hard for a just energy transition during the December 2020 EU Council sitting. He noted that the 55-per cent target the EU adopted at the time applies to the whole of the EU, not just certain member states. Morawicki said that different countries have different energy mixes, and one size does not fit all. He explained that Poland is conducting its policy in a way that ensures the energy transformation is fair.
In mid-April, the European Parliament adopted directives and regulations for the Fit for 55 package, which intends to bring about climate neutrality by 2050. However, the measures were only supported by Polish opposition groupings Civic Platform, the Polish People’s Party, and the Left. The ruling Law and Justice party voted against the measures.
Poland’s Climate Minister, Anna Moskwa, said that Poland would not support any of the laws passed by the European Parliament at the EU Council. Meanwhile, the country’s Minister for EU Affairs, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek, labelled the Fit for 55 package a very harmful, saying that Poland would oppose it.
The disagreement between Poland and the EU comes as the bloc seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move towards clean energy. The EU has set a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and the Fit for 55 packages is seen as a significant step towards achieving that goal.