Poland is taking significant steps towards deregulation, driven by the growing need to simplify its legal framework. Efforts are underway to improve the quality of law by removing outdated and unnecessary regulations, fostering a more business-friendly and efficient environment for citizens and enterprises alike. But will these efforts truly lead to a more dynamic and innovative Poland, or are we simply replacing one set of challenges with another?
It Is Time for Action!
For years, Poland has had a problem with overregulation of the economy. The free-market reforms introduced more than 30 years ago became the foundation of Poland’s economic miracle. Thanks to them, we went through a period of stable development, which led to a lasting improvement in the quality of life. Nevertheless, successive governments have created new regulations, often complicating the rules and taking entrepreneurs by surprise. Excessive regulation and unpredictability limit the freedom of doing business.
“Deregulation benefits entrepreneurs, workers, and the economy. What is needed is systematic and professional communication in this area,” says Marcin Zielinski, president of the Civil Development Forum (CDF).
Deregulation as Key to Development
Deregulation does not just mean abolishing unnecessary regulations – it is mostly about simplifying them and adapting them to modern economic realities. Better laws mean more investment, less bureaucracy, and a more competitive economy.
“International comparisons show that Poland needs deregulation – we are ranked 70th in the Economic Freedom of the World ranking,” stresses Marek Tatala, president of the Economic Freedom Foundation (EFF). “Deregulation will have its opponents, but it is necessary to take advantage of the current interest in this topic so that as many good changes as possible come into effect and serve entrepreneurs, but also Poles.”
Without constant pressure, politicians may quickly abandon the topic. “We do not want deregulation to be just a fad. If we create the right tools today, they can limit the creation of bad laws in the future,” Tatala adds.
Roadmap for Reforming Poland’s Legal Framework
In order to improve Poland’s legal framework and create a more business-friendly environment, the EFF and CDF propose a set of strategic actions. These recommendations are aimed at streamlining the legislative process and reducing unnecessary regulations. The following are key actions that would serve as the foundation for effective deregulation:
- A moratorium on new regulations until the first significant deregulation packages and one-in-one-out rules take effect – such as a regulatory brake for 100-180 days;
- An assessment of existing economic law in the various ministries;
- Improving the quality of the legislative process, including better impact assessments and public consultations;
- EU+0 principle, i.e. implementation of EU law only to the minimum extent required by European regulations;
- Strengthening Poland’s voice in the EU as a brake on new regulations and a country pushing for real deregulation in Europe, which will begin later in 2025, preferably during the Polish presidency.
Expertise and Commitment
To promote deregulation and ensure it does not become just a temporary trend, the EFF and CDF launched the deregulacja.pl project. Both organizations support a pro-development and freedom approach to the economy, and specialize in economic analysis of the law, monitoring the legislative process, and promoting policies that are good for the economy. They have actively supported the idea of deregulation for years.
In parallel, concrete actions to simplify the law and increase economic and personal freedom are being carried out by a team coordinated by a Polish entrepreneur Rafal Brzoska. Many of the detailed solutions can be found on the website SprawdzaMY.com. The EFF and CDF, as part of the Deregulacja.pl project, intend to support such activities, even after the SprawdzaMY initiative presents a final list of demands.
“It is hoped that as many changes as possible will be made in the coming weeks, and the first drafts will be passed by the Sejm before the elections. But looking at the history of Polish legislation, many of the changes could take months and, in the absence of sustained external pressure, remain stalled for longer,” the EFF president concludes.
The goal of the initiative is to educate, point out legal absurdities, and promote changes that will make the system more transparent and friendly to entrepreneurs and employees. The EFF and CDF also call for improvements in the legislative process to improve the quality of legislation and reduce the problem of over-regulation in the future.
Within the framework of the project, the two foundations also intend to monitor deregulation carried out by those in power, mobilize politicians for action, and support valuable ideas presented by entrepreneurs and citizens.
For more information about the initiative, visit: www.deregulacja.pl.
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