The European Commission launched dual legal proceedings against Poland at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), citing failures to implement critical climate and digital regulations, according to Euractiv.
The move underscores mounting tensions between Brussels and Warsaw over compliance with EU-wide reforms aimed at reducing carbon emissions and regulating online platforms.
Poland is accused of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark law requiring member states to appoint empowered national regulators—Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs)—by February 2024. These bodies are tasked with enforcing rules to combat illegal content, disinformation, and harmful practices on digital platforms. While countries like Spain and Portugal designated DSCs but failed to grant them full authority, Poland remains the only EU state yet to appoint any regulator—a year after the deadline.
The Commission emphasised that Poland’s inaction undermined the DSA’s enforcement framework, which mandates penalties for non-compliant platforms. Without a DSC, Brussels cannot effectively coordinate with Warsaw to investigate tech giants like Meta or TikTok, leaving gaps in oversight.
Separately, Poland faces censure for missing a March 2024 deadline to submit plans for CO2-based road tolls under the revised Eurovignette Directive. The 2022 reforms expand tolling to all heavy- and light-duty vehicles (previously limited to trucks over 3.5 tonnes) and introduce emissions-linked charges to incentivise greener transport.
By delaying these measures, Poland jeopardises the EU’s carbon-neutral road freight targets. The Commission argues that differentiated tolls are critical to reducing transport emissions, which account for 25% of the bloc’s greenhouse gases. Bulgaria and Greece also face infringement procedures over similar lapses, but Poland’s dual non-compliance places it uniquely under scrutiny.
The legal actions reflect Brussels’ hardening stance on enforcement. Alongside Poland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Spain, and Portugal are being sued for DSA shortcomings, while Bulgaria risks court referral if it fails to address DSC deficiencies within two months.
With climate deadlines looming and digital governance gaps widening, Poland’s response could set a precedent for enforcement across the bloc.
