Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the preparation of a bill on civil partnerships, noting that it will not be presented in the Sejm until it receives support from parties in the ruling coalition.
Expanding the rights of same-sex couples: approval of the law in Poland
Tusk said that he would not force any of the parties in the coalition to support this document. He stressed that the coalition includes four parties, each of which has different views and approaches to the issues of abortion and civil partnerships.
“Next week we will make a decision not as a government, but as parliamentary factions regarding the inclusion of this and possibly other bills on the agenda,” the prime minister said.
Minister for Equality Katarzyna Kotula said the negotiations were in their final stages in her assessment.
“I am confident that this bill will soon be included in the government program for legislative consideration. We discuss the smallest details. The basic principles have been developed and the regulatory assessment of the project has been completed,” Kotula added.
The Minister also confirmed that the Civil Partnership Bill would apply to same-sex partners.
“There are significant decisions of European courts that clearly indicate the need to legalize such relations. We have “rainbow” families where partners have lived together for many years,” she noted.
Passing civil partnership legislation was one of a hundred specific goals identified by Tusk’s Civic Coalition at the start of his election campaign. Other parties in the current coalition have also expressed support for civil partnerships.
Poland is one of the five EU member states, along with Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Lithuania, where same-sex couples have not yet been given the opportunity to legally formalize their relationships.
In December 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Poland in a case involving five same-sex couples who sought official recognition of their relationships as legal. The court noted in its decision that Poland had violated the European Convention on Human Rights and was obliged to provide legal protection for same-sex couples.
Consequences for Poland: financial penalties, exclusion from the EU and political tensions
Failure to comply with the European Court’s decision could have serious consequences for Poland, both legally and politically. Firstly, it could result in significant financial penalties from the European Union. Such fines can put serious pressure on the country’s budget and cause financial instability.
In addition, failure to comply with the court’s decision could lead to further legal action, including the possible expulsion of Poland from some European structures or even from the European Union. This could seriously affect the country’s international reputation and its relations with other EU members.
Politically, failure to comply with the court’s decision could lead to increased tension and conflict within the country. This could cause discontent among the population and lead to an aggravation of the political situation, including possible protests and social tensions.
Overall, the consequences for Poland of non-compliance with the European Court’s decision could be far-reaching and cover both economic and political aspects, which could seriously affect the stability and development of the country.
