On Friday in Gdynia, President Karol Nawrocki signed a legislative initiative titled “Yes to Polish Ports.” The submitted draft law obliges the government to carry out a number of investments aimed at protecting Poland’s economic and strategic interests.
President Karol Nawrocki signed another legislative initiative today. This time, it is “Yes! For Polish Ports.”
“Indeed, this is another legislative initiative that will soon be submitted to the Marshal of the Polish Sejm, and another stage in fulfilling my campaign commitments. The Plan 21 will be consistently implemented over the next five years, with full determination. And just as I said during the election campaign: yes to CPK – that draft law is already in the legislative process in the Polish Sejm – just as loudly today from Gdynia I say: yes to Polish ports!” said the president in Gdynia. He added that “this is therefore another point I will carry out as the President of the Republic of Poland.”
Implementation of Plan 21
The president went on to note that “although it may sound obvious, and people across Poland surely know it well, the Baltic Sea represents an immense potential for the Polish state.”
“It is an economic, military, and defense potential – though at the same time a major challenge in terms of Poland’s national security. The efficiency of the Polish state in taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the Baltic Sea is a responsibility we all share as a national community. And it must be a matter of concern for the President of the Republic of Poland. The concept for the development of Poland’s port infrastructure, the one from 2019, looked ahead to 2030. But I am already convinced that we must think in a much broader perspective – at least until 2035. And that is precisely what today’s signed bill also addresses. It is an attempt at a strategic, comprehensive view of Poland’s maritime economy, of the tasks facing the Polish state, but also a disciplined effort to ensure that the Polish government completes the investments that were initiated under the United Right. It is also about enabling the Polish government to solve the problems that arise around many of these projects. This initiative is therefore not directed against anyone, but rather represents a strategic approach to addressing the need for the development of – and indeed, above all – port infrastructure,” he explained.
“When we look at port infrastructure, we must be aware that the vast majority of international trade takes place precisely through Polish ports. Polish ports generate 230,000 jobs and contribute 60 billion zlotys to the state budget. Dynamic trade growth through Polish ports continued until 2024. That year, however, was a kind of crisis, because for the first time, trade through Polish ports in 2024 was lower than in the previous year. Nevertheless, we must continue to make every effort and fulfill our duties to develop port infrastructure. Without it, we would not have our energy security. Without the LNG terminal in Świnoujście or the oil terminal in Gdańsk, we would not have been able to safeguard our energy security or free ourselves from dependence on resources from the Russian Federation,” President Nawrocki continued.
The issue of security
The president also pointed out that the development of port infrastructure contributes to much more effective military security.
“After all, Polish ports – and the Baltic container port in particular – are also the points through which military equipment arrives in Poland. For our allies, the Americans, but also for the Polish Armed Forces. The development of port infrastructure determines our security and allied cooperation. It is a great responsibility – for me, for the government, and for the governments to come,” he explained.
He added that “I am particularly focused on the need to complete and build the deepwater terminal in Świnoujście. Yes, alongside Gdańsk, Świnoujście should also have a deepwater terminal, because it will make it possible to handle the largest container ships and generate concrete profits for the Polish economy.”
He emphasized that “this terminal, once built, will be the deepwater terminal farthest away from the Kaliningrad Oblast.”
“As President of Poland, I am concerned that there is growing discussion around the terminal – on one hand, inspired by German environmental organizations, and on the other, by proposals to modify these projects. I want to give the Polish parliament and government the ability to end this debate and make a strategic, fundamental decision that we need a deepwater terminal in Świnoujście. We also need the same approach regarding the Oder waterways. Just as the Polish people do, we must be able to use the Oder waterway to develop our ports and inland navigation,” said Karol Nawrocki.
He further clarified that “once again, we are dealing with the activities of pseudo-environmental German organizations or attempts to create the Lower Oder National Park, which, as the President of the Republic of Poland, I find concerning in the context of our strategic need to develop the maritime economy.”