President Karol Nawrocki on Tuesday, April 7th, urged Prime Minister Donald Tusk to immediately challenge the EU-Mercosur agreement at the European Court of Justice.
President Nawrocki Calls for Legal Action
President Karol Nawrocki announced on Tuesday, April 7th, that he is sending a “special letter” to Prime Minister Donald Tusk requesting an immediate appeal of the European Union agreement with Mercosur states to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Nawrocki appealed to the government, stating, “The countryside cannot wait any longer.”
Government Promises Unfulfilled
Nawrocki stated the government had promised action but failed to deliver, adding, “The countryside cannot wait any longer.” He included a draft complaint with his letter, asserting everything is prepared and only action is needed to halt the Mercosur agreement.
Legislative Initiatives and Foreign Policy Authority
Nawrocki also appealed for Parliament to address two presidential legislative initiatives concerning the Polish countryside.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski responded, stating the President has no constitutional authority over European policy, which is the sole domain of the Council of Ministers. Sikorski also reminded that during his first RBN, the President pledged to persuade Italy to join a blocking minority against Mercosur.
Tusk Rules Out Immediate Court Challenge
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced at the end of March that the government does not currently plan to file a complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
Tusk noted that a complaint had already been filed on behalf of the European Parliament.
Decision-Making Process and Parliamentary Resolution
Tusk clarified that decisions are made at the government level, and a complaint is formally submitted by a member state.
In mid-March, the Sejm adopted a resolution calling for a challenge to the EU-Mercosur agreement at the Court of Justice of the EU, urging the government to file a complaint in Poland’s name, independent of the European Parliament’s complaint.
Agreement Signed Amidst Opposition
Representatives of the European Union and Mercosur states signed a partnership and interim trade agreement on January 17th. Consent was given on January 9th with opposition from Poland, France, Ireland, Hungary, and Austria. The partnership agreement still requires ratification by all EU member states.
On January 21st, the European Parliament submitted a request to the Court of Justice of the EU to examine its compatibility with EU treaties, delaying the vote on approval by at least several months. However, Mercosur could decide to implement the agreement provisionally during this period, before ratification by the European Parliament.