The Polish government’s declared “year of deregulation” in 2025 has resulted in a surge of new legislation, contradicting its stated goals.
What is Deregulation?
Deregulation, in its strictest sense, is the opposite of regulation – the elimination of unnecessary or flawed legal provisions. It can also be understood more broadly as actions aimed at simplifying activities for businesses and citizens, such as tax reductions or streamlined procedures.
However, changes considered “beneficial” by lawmakers do not necessarily constitute deregulation. Simply put, any new law is perceived as “beneficial” by its creators, making the term lose its meaning.
Why Deregulation?
The push for deregulation stemmed from the government’s inability to deliver on campaign promises and a need to rally support before presidential elections. It was intended as a distraction from failures and a means to attract voters.
Premier Donald Tusk announced the “year of deregulation” in February 2025, seeking to emulate the success of figures like Elon Musk and Rafał Brzoska. However, the initiative quickly became detached from its original intent.
The “SprawdzaMy” Initiative and Its Limitations
The “SprawdzaMy” (We Check) team received 16,000 proposals for deregulation from the public, but only implemented 139 – less than 1% of the submissions. Most of these were new regulations framed as “beneficial” rather than actual deregulation.
Transparency surrounding the initiative is lacking, with limited public access to the original proposals and the final implemented changes. Experts struggle to identify concrete examples of successful deregulation.
The Illusion of Deregulation in Parliament
The parliamentary process for deregulation is hampered by inefficiencies and a lack of commitment. The Sejm’s Commission for Deregulation has experienced high turnover, with numerous members rotating through the position.
Despite declarations, no commission or parliamentary project has been fully completed. Even proposals from the opposition party were ultimately rejected by the government after initial support.
The Broader Problem of Legal Inflation
The issue of excessive legislation is not unique to Poland, but a widespread problem across Europe. Attempts at deregulation have consistently failed, mirroring the findings of the 2001 Mandelkern Report, which highlighted the problem of legal inflation in the EU.
Addressing this requires reducing the overall volume of legislation, improving the quality of lawmaking, and limiting engagement in international regulations. A shift in legal culture, away from regulating every aspect of life, is also crucial.
