President Andrzej Duda has approved Piotr Serafin as Poland’s candidate for EU Commissioner, following Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s proposal.
On Tuesday, the Polish government selected Serafin on the recommendation of Minister for European Union Affairs Adam Szłapka.
However, according to a procedure outlined in a 2023 amendment to the 2010 law on cooperation between the government and the president regarding Poland’s EU involvement, the president still had to approve the government’s decision.
Tusk’s proposal was submitted to Duda on August 16, and the president had 21 days to approve or reject the nomination.
Duda’s approval now positions Serafin as a key contender for the EU budget commissioner role.
EC chief Ursula von der Leyen expects member states to submit their candidates by the end of August. It is her, who will decide on the distribution of posts.
The candidates will then have to win the approval of MEPs at hearings in the European Parliament, and finally be approved by the chamber through a vote.
However, according to a procedure outlined in a 2023 amendment to the 2010 law on cooperation between the government and the president regarding Poland’s EU involvement, the president still had to approve the government’s decision.
Tusk’s proposal was submitted to Duda on August 16, and the president had 21 days to approve or reject the nomination.
Duda’s approval now positions Serafin as a key contender for the EU budget commissioner role.
EC chief Ursula von der Leyen expects member states to submit their candidates by the end of August. It is her, who will decide on the distribution of posts.
The candidates will then have to win the approval of MEPs at hearings in the European Parliament, and finally be approved by the chamber through a vote.
Amendment contentions
The 2023 amendment has sparked debate in Poland, with government officials arguing that it contradicts the constitution, which assigns the execution of foreign policy to the government.
The President's Office, however, maintained that the formal submission of Serafin’s candidacy was necessary under the law.
As the process unfolded, the President's Office awaited the formal nomination from the government, underlying the tension between these two branches of Poland's government over the interpretation and application of the competency law.
On Friday, Tusk said he had spoken with President Duda a few days ago about foreign policy cooperation and was “edified” by the president’s approach.
“I think we will come to an agreement with the President, especially since the candidacy of Piotr Serafin… is apolitical,” the PM said.
Piotr Serafin was the head of Donald Tusk’s cabinet from 2014 to 2019 while Tusk chaired the European Council. Before that, he was Secretary of State for European Affairs in Poland from 2012 to 2014 and worked at the Office of the Committee for European Integration from 1999 to 2010. In December last year, he became Poland’s Permanent Representative to the EU in Brussels.
Source:
More In Politics MORE...
