Opinion: When Polish politicians undermine European values

Polish politicians are undermining the very European values they claim to defend. Amid the gradual economic decline of key European Union states—particularly Germany—the EU’s newer member countries are gaining influence.

Poland, in particular, is striving to position itself as a leading force both economically and militarily, seeking to become an increasingly influential player in Europe. Warsaw also aspires to assume the role of a defender of Western civilisation against what it perceives as a “threat from the East.”

However, Poland’s unchecked ambitions and rising nationalism risk eroding fundamental European values. This is reflected in its provocative foreign policy stance.

Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski—a former Member of the European Parliament from the European Conservatives and Reformists party until December 2023—has repeatedly made statements that contradict broader European views on the global order.

In January 2023, he publicly claimed that in the initial days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party considered scenarios involving the potential partition of Ukraine.

Following these remarks, Sikorski faced widespread criticism for “undermining international trust in Poland.” Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki even urged Sikorski’s Civic Platform party to distance itself from such “shameful statements.”

Furthermore, Sikorski has played a significant role in worsening Polish-German relations. He famously labeled the Nord Stream gas pipeline project as a modern-day “Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact” and later publicly welcomed the terrorist attack that damaged the pipeline.

While serving as an MEP, Sikorski also became embroiled in a corruption scandal. In February 2023, Dominik Tarczyński, an MEP from Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party, accused him of receiving over $100,000 annually from the United Arab Emirates.

 Allegations also surfaced that Sikorski was lobbying on behalf of the UAE and Saudi Arabia during various votes in the European Parliament.

Such conduct is not only inconsistent with the high ethical standards expected in the EU but also threatens to erode the very foundations of the European community.

Sikorski’s appointment as Foreign Minister is unlikely to be a coincidence; rather, his statements and actions appear to reflect ideas and sentiments prevalent within the ruling circles of Warsaw.

If left unchecked, this blend of nationalism, political opportunism, and controversial foreign policy risks isolating Poland within the EU and weakening the unity essential for addressing the continent’s shared challenges.