Centers for foreigner integration are sparking public protests across Poland. Tensions have erupted in cities like Katowice, Łomża, Płock, and Suwałki. A major scandal has broken out in Suwałki, where the regional marshal is trying to force the city to build such a center, threatening to cut off EU funding if they refuse.
“This exposes the full hypocrisy of Civic Platform and Rafał Trzaskowski. They deceive Poles during the election campaign, while at the same time they’re carrying out intense, consistent, and ruthless actions to prepare for the post-election period—when the masks come off and thousands of migrants are set to flood Poland,” said Jacek Sasin, a PiS MP representing the Podlasie region, in an interview with Gazeta Polska Codziennie.
Resistance against setting up migrant integration centers continues in Podlasie. The project was successfully blocked in Łomża, and residents of Suwałki have also been protesting for several weeks. Despite this, the regional authorities—governed by the KO-PSL coalition—together with the local Caritas organization, are pushing the plan forward without seeking community consent. Locals told Codzienna that such a center is unnecessary, as existing institutions are already providing support to foreigners. The grassroots, nonpartisan protest has gained traction and even mobilized local council members to oppose the plan. In response, regional authorities have chosen to intimidate the public instead of addressing their concerns. The regional marshal sent a letter to the mayor warning that the city could lose access to EU funds.
“In connection with the implementation of the ‘European Funds for Podlaskie 2021–2027’ program, I would like to draw your attention to and remind you that in the 2021–2027 financial perspective, when implementing programs and projects co-financed by the EU, special verification is required regarding horizontal principles laid out in EU regulations. One such principle is the prevention of all discrimination based on gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation in the preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of programs. (…) If the beneficiary is a local government unit (or an entity dependent on it) that has undertaken any discriminatory actions contrary to these principles, support from cohesion policy funds cannot be granted,” the marshal of the Podlaskie region wrote in a letter addressed to the city mayor.
In other words, passing a resolution to block the CIC (Center for Foreigner Integration) would result in local governments losing access to EU funding.
“We’re not discriminating against anyone. We already have a large number of Ukrainian and Belarusian citizens living here, and we have no problem with that,” residents told us.
It’s hard to say what game the local government is playing. Czesław Renkiewicz, the mayor of Suwałki, seems to be for and against the center at the same time. He showed up at a rally held by Rafał Trzaskowski, which residents took as a sign of support, yet he’s also trying to reassure the public. However, he didn’t show up to Tuesday’s city council session. Meanwhile, hundreds of angry residents did—furious at the Civic Platform politicians and the marshal.
“Letters like this show a complete lack of understanding of the situation. The only thing it will achieve is further antagonizing local communities. We should meet people’s expectations and not build these centers. Public safety is a top concern. This letter is nothing more than dirty political blackmail,” said Adam Andruszkiewicz, a PiS MP from Podlasie.