At 11:00 AM, the SLD will host the European Picnic at the Ignacy Daszyński monument in Warsaw, featuring speakers such as Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz. The Chairman of SLD, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, will also speak during the event. Additionally, May Day celebrations will take place nationwide in dozens of locations across Poland.

Today, on the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to the EU, the Confederation will organize the Sovereignty March. The march will begin at 1:00 PM at Castle Square. At 2:00 PM, it will proceed along Krakowskie Przedmieście to Świętokrzyska Street, and then to Jasna Street, ending at the European Commission representation where a picket will be held.

Also in Warsaw, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister will host the "Together for Europe - High Level Summit." As we reported on 300POLITYKA, the event will be attended by the prime ministers and presidents of almost all countries that joined the EU on May 1, 2004. May 1, 2004, marked the largest enlargement of the EU, with ten countries joining the community: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary.

The schedule includes the welcome of delegation heads by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at 10:00 AM, a family photo at 10:30 AM, and the Polish Prime Minister's participation in a working session at 10:50 AM. A working lunch with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and delegation heads will take place at 12:25 PM, followed by a walk through the Royal Castle Gardens at 1:40 PM. At 2:10 PM, a press meeting with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Prime Minister of Romania, Viorica Dăncilă, is scheduled, and at 2:50 PM, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă.

In Puławy, President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda will participate in the European Picnic organized to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union, where they will meet with residents around 3:45 PM.

At 11:00 AM in Warsaw, a press conference will be held by the leader of PSL, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and EP candidate Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski. The topic: Let's Write the EU into the Constitution. At 12:00 PM in Iwkowka, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Patryk Jaki will hold a press conference.

At 1:30 PM in Warsaw, a press conference titled "15 Years of Poland in the EU" will take place with the participation of European Parliament candidates, as well as a special appearance by the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski. Andrzej Halicki, Marcin Kierwiński, and Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz will also attend the conference. At 2:00 PM, a joint singing of "Ode to Joy" is planned in front of the Bristol Hotel, followed by a walk with candidates and Rafał Trzaskowski through the Old Town at 2:30 PM.

11:00 AM - SLD European Picnic in Warsaw

11:00 AM - Press conference of Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski in Warsaw

12:00 PM - Press conference of Patryk Jaki in Iwkowka

1:30 PM - Press conference of European Coalition candidates in Warsaw with the participation of Rafał Trzaskowski

2:00 PM - Sovereignty March in Warsaw

2:10 PM - Meeting with the media of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dăncilă

2:30 PM - Walk of KE candidates in Warsaw with Rafał Trzaskowski through the Old Town

3:45 PM - Meeting of President Andrzej Duda with the residents of Puławy

- The problem is that there are no economic incentives to employ people on permanent contracts rather than on precarious ones. What we want is to rebuild the system so that employment on precarious contracts becomes unprofitable, and employment on permanent contracts becomes more profitable - stated Adrian Zandberg in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News' "Polityczne Graffiti" (Political Graffiti).

- It's not that we will introduce a uniform wage level in Poland and Germany from January 1, 2019. We are not utopians to think so. But we need a mechanism that will force countries in our region to compete with the West when it comes to the pace of wage growth - stated Adrian Zandberg in a conversation with Piotr Witwicki in Polsat News' "Polityczne Graffiti".

- For me, the matter is clear. If the law is broken during the assembly [of the Sovereignty March], if there are shouts that incite hatred or violence, I expect the authorities not to be afraid, not to back down, but to react as the law allows them. We have legal tools for this, and in my opinion, the authorities often do not use these tools - stated Adrian Zandberg in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News' "Polityczne Graffiti".

- Today at 9:00 AM, I will be at the Warsaw Citadel near the Execution Gate. This is a truly important place for the Polish independence-oriented left, because it was where people who fought for social justice and independence perished. We will lay flowers there and say a few words about our proposal for a Pact for Labor, which we want to offer to all political parties in Poland - stated Adrian Zandberg in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on Polsat News' "Polityczne Graffiti".

„The aim of this meeting is to summarize 15 years in the European Union. It's also a summary of actions taken to integrate Europe – the old and the new Union – as well as a discussion about our region, about the perspective and viewpoint of our region on a number of European issues and preparation for the summit in Romania” - Minister Michał Dworczyk said on „Sygnały dnia” on Polskie Radio Jedynka.

"Today, a declaration summarizing the meeting in Warsaw will be drafted, presenting our point of view on European affairs, the future of the Union, and the need for cooperation with NATO" - said Minister Michał Dworczyk in "Sygnały dnia" on Radio Jedynka.

"No one who honestly analyzes the situation in the EU would put forward the thesis that Poland is not engaged and does not have influence on the direction in which the EU is developing. It is enough to look at such an important issue as the approach to migration, to illegal immigrants," said Minister Michał Dworczyk in "Sygnały dnia" on Radio Jedynka.

May in politics is dominated by the final month of campaigning and the European Parliament elections. The vote will be preceded by, among other things, Donald Tusk's May 3rd address at the University of Warsaw, Grzegorz Schetyna's interrogation by the VAT parliamentary committee, and the ongoing assessment of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) – a legal opinion is expected at the end of the month, but still before the elections, from the CJEU's Advocate General regarding preliminary questions.

Before the elections, there will also be a protest by people with disabilities, and the Senate will work on a flagship promise from the so-called "Kaczyński's Five," namely the extension of the "Family 500+" program to the first child. In the week after the elections, the aforementioned President of the European Council is expected to appear before the parliamentary committee again, this time regarding VAT. It is also possible that the National Electoral Commission (PKW) will elect its president in May.

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Tusk's Address. - Hope and Responsibility. On the Constitution, Europe, and Free Elections. Liberté! and the Tadeusz Mazowiecki Chair at the University of Warsaw invite you to an address by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on the occasion of the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of May 3rd. We invite everyone for whom the Constitution, European values, and the future of Polish democracy are important - the organizers wrote in the invitation to the event. The President of the European Council will deliver his speech on May 3rd at 2:00 PM at the University of Warsaw.

May 1st and 3rd Celebrations. On May 1st in Warsaw – on the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to the EU – there will be, among other events, a European Picnic organized by the Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland (SLD) with the participation of Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz and Włodzimierz Czarzasty, a Sovereignty March organized by the Confederation, and the "Together for Europe - High Level Summit" organized by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. On May 3rd in Warsaw, a parade will take place to celebrate 20 years of Poland in NATO and 15 years in the European Union.

President Duda's Decision on Courts and Swearing-in of a Constitutional Tribunal Judge. At the beginning of May, the swearing-in of the new Constitutional Tribunal judge, Wojciech Sych – elected at the end of April by the Sejm – who will replace Sławomira Wronkowska-Jaśkiewicz, should take place. Her 9-year term ends on May 6th. Also in May, President Duda is expected to make a decision – likely to sign – on the amendment to the law on the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) and the law – the Administrative Court System Act, which, among other things, excludes the possibility of appealing KRS requests for the appointment of Supreme Court judges.

Timmermans' Visit. On May 6th, Vice-President Frans Timmermans will pay a visit to Poland – another one recently. "He supports all forces he considers sensible. I am pleased that he supports the SLD. This is his last visit before the EP elections. He personally supports Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz and that's why he is coming" – said Włodzimierz Czarzasty in an interview with Bogdan Rymanowski on Polsat News.

Work on "Kaczyński's Five". From May 8th to 10th, the Senate will address the extension of the "Family 500+" program to the first child. It is almost certain that the upper house will adopt the bill without amendments, so that President Duda can then sign it. Work is also expected to be carried out in May on other projects from the so-called "Kaczyński's Five" – restoring bus connections and tax changes. These proposals must first be approved by the government. The only Sejm session this month will take place from May 15th to 17th.

Discussions on Teachers. On May 10th, another meeting dedicated to education is scheduled to take place, organized as part of the so-called educational round table, proposed by Prime Minister Morawiecki, which was held at the National Stadium.

Tusk and Schetyna Before the Parliamentary Committee. The VAT parliamentary committee will interrogate Civic Platform (PO) leader Grzegorz Schetyna on May 7th, and former Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski the following day – partly in a closed session. At the end of the month – most likely on May 29th – the committee plans to interrogate former Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. According to the interrogation schedule, the committee is also expected to interrogate Ewa Kopacz and Sławomir Nowak this month.

CJEU on KRS. According to a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the CJEU's Advocate General will issue an opinion on preliminary questions from the Supreme Court concerning, among other things, the National Council of the Judiciary on May 23rd. This will be a prelude to a ruling that is most likely to be made at the end of June or in July. Meanwhile, the CJEU has scheduled an additional hearing on May 14th regarding preliminary questions from the Supreme Court.

Protest by People with Disabilities. "I invite everyone who supports our protest to Warsaw on May 23rd" – stated Jakub Hartwich in a recording published via Facebook. First, the protesters will gather in front of the Presidential Palace, then they will march to the Sejm and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

Campaigning and European Parliament Elections. On May 26th, the European Parliament elections will be held in Poland. Polling stations will be open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. This year, we will elect 52 Members of the European Parliament. The election campaign will last until May 24th, and from May 11th – according to the election calendar – free dissemination of electoral broadcasts on public radio and television programs prepared by election committees will begin. In May, regional conventions of the largest parties will take place – Beata Mazurek has already announced that the last, final convention will be held on May 18th.

Photo: *European Parliament*

„I believe it was a huge, positive political, geopolitical, and economic change. A new stage of life. It was truly the end of Yalta. Only then, before that, we were slowly freeing ourselves from the Yalta curse” – said MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski in an interview with Beata Michniewicz on Polskie Radio Program 3.

The agenda includes, among other things, a working session, a working lunch with the participation of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and heads of delegations, as well as a meeting with the media featuring PMM and the Prime Minister of Romania, Viorica Dăncilă, at 2:10 PM.

https://twitter.com/PremierRP/status/1123505810926120960

As 300POLITYKA has learned, this evening – on the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to the EU – Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will deliver an address. According to our sources, the head of the Polish government will refer to the address by the late President Lech Kaczyński, delivered on the 5th anniversary, and will emphasize that Poland is becoming a European champion of economic growth. The broadcast will be at 8:00 PM on TVP and Polsat, as well as on TV Republika, wPolsce, TV Trwam, and TVN24.

"We are all very proud of this [Poland's membership in the EU]. We wanted to thank the generations of our parents and grandparents who made it possible for us to join the European Union. Without their immense effort after the war, during the difficult times of the PRL, during the Solidarity movement, and in the peaceful transition of 1989, building the Third Polish Republic through the 1990s and early 21st century, they proved that they could lead Poland from its best place in history to security, peace, and development. For this, we are very grateful and wish continued prosperity for our beloved homeland and the European Union" - said the leader of the Peasants' Party, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, at a press conference.

"We want to do everything to permanently establish ourselves in the family of European community states. In this campaign, we see committees emerging that call themselves 'Polexit,' with the expulsion of Poland from the European Union in their name. As the Polish People's Party (PSL), we are presenting a proposal for a constitutional amendment. This is the addition of a new chapter titled 'Membership of the Republic of Poland in the European Union'" - he added.

"The Republic of Poland is a member of the European Union, which respects the national identity of its member states, implements the principles of subsidiarity, a democratic rule of law, equality of citizens, and respect for human dignity" - reads the content of the constitutional amendment proposed by the PSL.

- Today marks 15 years of our presence in the EU. I wanted to say that we are very pleased to be in the EU. Poles form the strength of this wonderful community and its wonderful ideas. Today is a time when it is worth briefly summarizing a few points. We are strongly convinced that the EU can be even stronger. We want an even stronger EU, and it will be stronger when it relies on the values that accompanied Poland's accession to the EU in 2004. That is, above all, we want Europe to return to its Christian roots, to stop fighting its greatest heritage, which has always made Europe the driving force, economically and innovatively, for the whole world. Secondly, we are very keen for Europe to be - as we agreed - a place of free economic flow and equal principles for all states. So that there is no such thing as what we recently heard about the mobility directive, which is exceptionally unfavorable for Polish carriers. It was not supposed to be like this, especially when we talk about the EU, we cannot fail to mention Robert Schuman and his great idea of basing Europe on Christian values, which is so often departed from today. The EU was supposed to be a place of solidarity among states, especially concerning such a sensitive area as energy security. You are unfortunately familiar with the projects related to Nord Stream. These are the things we have to face today. In addition to this, we have many positive phenomena that make Poles part of the foundation; Poles are one of the most enthusiastic nations in the entire community, and it would be good for the community to be able to utilize this, respecting the tradition and history of our country. In other words, we want things to be exactly as we agreed in 2004, because then the EU was stronger - stated Patryk Jaki at a conference inIwkowa.

- We are very pleased [with Poland's presence in the EU]. We believe that the European community can be stronger with the values we agreed upon in 2004. And we believe that this can happen - added the Deputy Minister of Justice and candidate for the European Parliament.

- You cannot talk about transformation in Poland without the left. As I observe what Prime Minister Morawiecki is doing right now, and what President Duda says in his speeches, I must admit, I am astonished. You cannot talk about the Round Table, about a peaceful, sensible transformation from one system to another, without the left, without the diverse left, including the SLD. You cannot talk about June 4th, the first elections, without the left. You cannot talk about the Constitution without the SLD. You will not erase surnames like the heads of the constitutional commission. One of them is with us, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz. You will not rub out Aleksander Kwaśniewski, the only president of two terms, with any eraser. You will not succeed. You will not succeed in talking about joining the EU without Miller, Cimoszewicz, and Kwaśniewski. You will not succeed - stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty during the SLD European Picnic.

- I can greet friends from the Razem party, from OPZZ, from UP, from PPS, WiR, from many parties that have always been with us, and we were not always wise enough to see it. I also greet Robert Biedroń's party, Wiosna. Robert, find your place between progressive populism and liberalism. But find your place. We're keeping our fingers crossed for you - continued the SLD leader.

- Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. President, I address you with a smile. I address your boss, Jarosław Kaczyński. Stop lying. It makes no sense. Really. Miller is alive, Cimoszewicz is alive, Kwaśniewski is alive. People stand before me who remember both our entry into the EU and who gave Poland its Constitution, and the Round Table and June 4th. Do not say that only the opposition sat at the round table, because if only the opposition had sat there, there would have been no point in convening it - stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty during the SLD European Picnic.

- These people do not have the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. What we must do is guarantee the same rights to all these people, regardless of whether they are employed under employment contracts or work contracts. Everyone has the right to holidays, rest, and social welfare. I wanted to say that we are going to the EU, partly thanks to Cimoszewicz's name, in order to, as our friend Frans Timmermans recently said, guarantee a worker's package. One that would ensure a uniform minimum wage across the entire EU, regardless of the current state of economic development. We will strive for this. This is our promise to you. This is concrete. As part of this package, we will create a package of equal social rights, regardless of the form of employment. The third point is a strong role for trade unions in workplaces, fighting for workplace hygiene, for work, for working conditions for employees - stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty during the SLD European Picnic.

„15th anniversary of our accession to the European Union. We all see how Poland has changed, how our cities have changed. Thousands of roads, the entire infrastructure that allows us to make our environment significantly cleaner, numerous restored monuments, buildings. This is visible in Warsaw, where 40% of all investments were co-financed by the European Union – from the metro, through the boulevards and roads we drive on, to countless social projects. But above all, it is the security that Poland has been guaranteed through our participation in NATO and the EU. It is evident that today there are those who do not understand this; that if we were not in the EU, we would simply be in a security grey zone” – said the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, at a press conference.

„I wanted to make an appeal to those born after 1985, because at the time of the referendum, they could not cast their vote and joined the EU as full citizens a year later. I would like to address them, asking them to treat these upcoming European Parliament elections as a second referendum, so they can express their voice. A voice of support for the European Union. We need to take matters into our own hands. This should also be a second referendum for all of us, for those who care that Poland is mentally in Western Europe, not in the East, that Poland is a law-abiding country, that it can effectively defend its interests in the EU, that Poland grows, that it is a wealthy and happy country” – he added.

"Our debate was exceptionally lively. It was very honest, rich in content, and interesting," said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference. "We are grateful for what we receive from the EU, but we emphasize that we give at least as much."

"The initial proposals of the EC (regarding the budget) were deemed unacceptable by our countries, and thus this is a clear signal that the budget that will be adopted next year will most likely be much more beneficial for Poland, for Romania, and for other Central European countries than some thought a dozen or so months ago," he added.

- Today we are meeting here precisely in connection with the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to the EU. An accession that had, and I am convinced still has, a revolutionary character for us. Just a moment ago, I was giving an interview to Lublin television and I said that what is happening in Poland in connection with EU funds, that we are investing these funds that come to us within the framework of cohesion policy, is something like a Marshall Plan. Years after the Marshall Plan, which we were once, a long time ago, not allowed to benefit from by the communist authorities, because our great patron from the East forbade it. Today, symbolically, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of those 1989 elections, the 20th anniversary of our presence in NATO, and the 15th anniversary of our presence in the EU this year. These most important events, undoubtedly the most important for Poland in the last half-century – stated President Andrzej Duda in Puławy, during the European Picnic.

- No one in Poland needs an explanation of what the EU is. As Poles, we are its staunch supporters. Once, which is extremely important, we made a decision in a referendum that we wanted to belong to the EU. I still hear in my ears the words of the greatest authority for Poles, perhaps in our entire history, namely our Holy Father John Paul II, who then spoke so clearly about our future membership in the EU. His statement from 2003, in my opinion, had enormous significance for the decision made by Poles regarding belonging to the EU. He said clearly and unequivocally, briefly: go to Europe, because he said: Poland needs Europe, and Europe needs Poland. This was one of the most important sentences at that time when we were considering how to vote in the European elections. In that choice, for the EU, in my opinion, we made a historic decision for us, which positively determines Poland's development, I hope not only for the coming decades, but I hope for the coming centuries - stated President Andrzej Duda in Puławy, during the European Picnic.

- These two elements, the year 1989 and the decision made in the European referendum, were decisions made by Polish society. It was we, with our collective effort, who decided this. It is we today, with our collective effort, the wisdom of local authorities, but also the hard work of Polish society, who are effectively using EU funds and can confidently say: Europe is us, the EU is us. We are part of it. I always emphasize this very strongly. In terms of identity, culture, and tradition, we have been part of Western Europe since the time of Mieszko I. It was then, when the Polish prince decided to accept baptism and thus inscribed himself into Christian Europe. Since then, we have truly been Europeans and always have been, even during the times when we were cut off from Western Europe behind the Iron Curtain, those borders, those walls. This tradition always persisted with us, and the best proof of this was that precisely at that time, it was a Pole who became the head of the Catholic Church, elected Pope. It was proof of our belonging to that tradition, to that part of the world. It is also thanks to him, to his unwavering stance, that we managed to win, to emerge back into freedom. Today, we are once again enjoying a sovereign, independent homeland, where we consciously make decisions. Today, we are again a democracy, a free country, and we belong to the most important alliances in the world - stated President Andrzej Duda in Puławy, during the European Picnic.

- We must do everything to ensure that the EU endures and that Poland remains in the EU. That is why today, it is primarily the European institutions themselves that should ask themselves why the great British society said "no" to the EU in their referendum. Why is Brexit one of the EU's biggest concerns today. I hope, by the way, that it will ultimately not happen. But it is a problem that for some reason the British said "no" to Europe. What can be done to make this great European project, one of the most beautiful things in the history of Europe, something that has ever happened, regain its attractiveness? To make it attractive to societies in Western Europe. We are happy about the EU, but the question is why are there doubts there. Brussels should answer this question. I believe that Europe needs more democracy. That national parliaments need a greater role in Europe, and that the European Parliament also needs a greater role as the institution to which people across Europe elect their representatives in ordinary, democratic elections. I am convinced that the EP should mean more, that its decision-making role should be even stronger - stated President Andrzej Duda in Puławy, during the European Picnic.

- We had quite a few invitations with my wife, but MP Ela Kruk called me. She's a colleague with whom I sat on the same bench in the Sejm, and she said: "Listen, Andrzej, I really want you to come to Puławy, because we're organizing this European Picnic there and I'd like you and Agata to come and be with us on May 1st. If you could, please come." And that's precisely why we are here with you today. Thank you very, very much, Ela, for this, for your persuasion - stated President Andrzej Duda in Puławy, during the European Picnic.

- For 15 years in the EU, Poland is unrecognizable. Modern infrastructure, technological development, new jobs. Help strengthen Poland in Europe. Vote for the European Coalition - says the narrator in a new spot from the European Coalition, published on social media. Our interlocutors emphasize the positive message of Poland's 15 years of EU membership - a similar spot was already published at the beginning of April, before the EC convention, but then it contained a negative message about the PiS government and Krystyna Pawłowicz.

“There is no threat of any Polexit, any exit of Poland from the European Union” – said Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on “Events and Opinions” on Polsat News – “Poland is one of the most important EU countries, if only due to its size, the development dynamics of the Polish economy, and the vibrancy of its society, still young compared to Western Europe. Both Poland and the new EU countries have benefited from the integration process as much as they have contributed to the EU treasury”. 

"I do not reject such a proposal [to enshrine Poland's EU membership in the constitution] outright, but it seems to me that Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz's proposal does not go far enough. I would like to remind you that the relationship between Poland and the EU is not regulated at all in the Polish constitution. The constitution was adopted in 1997, when we did not belong to the union. The day after tomorrow, during the May 3rd celebrations in Krakow, I will present a proposal that goes significantly further than what Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz proposed today," said Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on "Wydarzenia i opinie" on Polsat News.

• After these 15 years, we have reasons to be proud. We are becoming a European champion of economic growth. Our economy is already catching up with countries that were in the Union many years before us and did not experience communism. Our entrepreneurs compete with European companies without complexes. However, being a member of the European Union does not mean we should stop fighting for our Polish interests. Over these 15 years, we have constantly had to strengthen our position. Sometimes we had to compromise, and at other times we had to stand our ground. This is precisely the idea of the European community – says Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in his address.
• The coming decades in a United Europe lie ahead. It is high time for all Poles to achieve a European standard of living. This should be a common goal for all political forces present in the Polish, as well as the European, parliament – the head of the Polish government continues. Below is the full text of the address.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssgALfM8Qak

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15 years ago, we took a groundbreaking step in our history. On May 1, 2004, Poland firmly joined the project of a United Europe of free nations. We joined the European Union.

For a thousand years, Europe has given the world what is most valuable: boldness of thought, Christian charity, modern science, universal education, technology, and also democracy, which shaped modern nations.

We have been a European nation for over a thousand years. The history of Europe and Poland is written on the same pages.

Poland's membership in the European Union was achieved above political divisions, in the interest of all of us, our community. This consensus served Poland's raison d'état. Gratitude is due to all those who did much for Poland to join the European Union – successive presidents and governments, who conducted accession negotiations and prepared our country for integration.

But we did not stop there. On the contrary. Poland has changed more during this time than we expected. And every Pole has contributed to it. We have all worked very hard during this time. For us, for our families, for Poland.

After these 15 years, we have reasons to be proud. We are becoming a European champion of economic growth. Our economy is already catching up with countries that were in the Union many years before us and did not experience communism. Our entrepreneurs compete with European companies without complexes.

However, being a member of the European Union does not mean we should stop fighting for our Polish interests. Over these 15 years, we have constantly had to strengthen our position. Sometimes we had to compromise, and at other times we had to stand our ground. This is precisely the idea of the European community.

The coming decades in a United Europe lie ahead. It is high time for all Poles to achieve a European standard of living. This should be a common goal for all political forces present in the Polish, as well as the European, parliament.

In his address on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union, President Lech Kaczyński pointed to two paths to achieve this goal. The first is to advocate for Polish national interests within EU structures. The second is to advocate for European solidarity in matters such as energy security. We are fulfilling these tasks with full determination – this is the direction our government has taken.

From my numerous conversations with EU leaders, it is clear that Poland's position is increasingly understood in Europe. We are effectively creating new European alliances, especially within the V4 and the Three Seas Initiative. We are finding support for strategic projects – such as the expansion of the gas terminal in Świnoujście or the Baltic Pipe. Through investments like Via Carpathia and Via Baltica, we are creating real foundations for the development and security of our part of the continent for many years to come. This is also Poland's contribution to strengthening integration. To a United Europe of the future.

The Union, formerly the European Economic Community, was created after World War II to bring peace to Europe. So that all nations cooperate with each other and are equal. Poles, Germans, Czechs, French, Slovaks, and Italians. All citizens of a United Europe deserve the same opportunities.

A Europe without egoism and a Europe of solidarity is better than a Europe of two speeds. A Europe that values family is safer and more friendly than a Europe of revolutions and cultural experiments.

Over the last 30 years, we have achieved three great things: we overthrew communism, we joined NATO, and we entered the European Union.

Now, let's fight for our future together. I appeal to all political forces – let's debate, because that is the essence of democracy, but let's not undermine our position in Europe. Let's not undermine Poland's raison d'état, our right to freedom and solidarity.

I am glad that we can celebrate this 15th anniversary in Warsaw with the leaders of the countries that, along with Poland, joined the Community at that time.

Together, we will fight for a Union that protects the weakest, supports creativity, allows dreams to be realized, and guarantees freedom: economic freedom, freedom of speech, freedom from poverty and exclusion, and individual freedom.

Let us rejoice that we have been in the European Union for 15 years. Let us be proud that we have been Europeans for over a thousand years – there would be no history of Europe without Polish successes and sacrifices.

But above all, let us work to ensure that the wonderful idea, whose goal was peace and prosperity, becomes the common future of Poland and all of Europe.

Politicians from Civic Platform (PO) in various locations are discussing the benefits of Poland's EU membership. Platform has published messages from Grzegorz Schetyna from Maastricht, while its branches are promoting clips online demonstrating the specific gains local communities have achieved from Poland's membership in the Union. Agnieszka Pomaska, the head of PO in Gdańsk, spoke about what the Tricity has gained:



Joanna Mucha recorded a message about the EU in front of the airport in Świdnik:

Lotnisko w Świdniku! Również sfinansowane dzięki środkom europejskim! #PolskawEuropie #WielkiWybor #koalicjaeuropejska pic.twitter.com/GR5YCWBm1g

— Joanna Mucha (@joannamucha) 1 maja 2019