The government is drawing up an economic roadmap. Macroeconomic assumptions for the draft budget for 2027 are on the table.
At Tuesday's meeting, the government will discuss the draft multiannual macroeconomic assumptions for 2026-2030, including, among others: forecasts regarding GDP growth and inflation for 2027. Ministers will also consider a project on protecting people participating in public debate against the so-called SLAPP lawsuits.
Multiannual macroeconomic assumptions for 2026-2030 will include, among others: forecasts regarding GDP growth and inflation for 2027. The publication of these forecasts begins work on next year's budget.
The government will also take care of it draft report on the implementation of the medium-term budgetary and structural plan for 2025-2028. All European Union countries are obliged to submit such a report by April 30. The budgetary and structural plan contains both estimates of the projected increase in expenditure, as well as information on reforms aimed at implementing EU priorities and recommendations of the EU Council for Poland.
Since Poland is in the excessive deficit procedure (which is imposed on countries with a deficit exceeding 3% of GDP and with a debt exceeding 60% of GDP), the expenditure growth path outlined in the budgetary and structural plan is intended to enable the reduction of the budget deficit.
According to the original provisions of the plan, the public finance deficit was to fall below 3%. GDP in 2028
The ministers will also consider the draft law on special measures for the protection of persons participating in public debate, which assumes the introduction of mechanisms enabling faster elimination of unfounded lawsuits, known as SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation – strategic lawsuits aimed at suppressing public debate). These are matters initiated most often by influential entities, including: corporations, politicians and public institutions, against journalists, activists and social organizations.
The project includes, among others: the possibility of rejecting a lawsuit at an early stage of the proceedings if its main purpose is to suppress or distort public debate.
In the opinion of the project's authors, the proposed changes are intended to contribute to strengthening freedom of speech, increasing the protection of participants in public life and limiting practices involving the instrumental use of the right to a court.
The agenda also includes a draft amendment to the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction. The planned regulation aims to remove legal barriers that currently hinder, among others, providing international medical aid by Polish rescuers.
The amendment is intended to introduce a simplified procedure for the export of painkillers containing controlled substances for rescue teams certified by WHO and operating under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Thanks to this, Polish medical groups will be able to provide humanitarian aid outside the country more efficiently and in accordance with the law.
The project also assumes the exemption of Sanitary and Epidemiological units from the obligation to authorize the president of the Bureau for Chemical Substances to use new psychoactive substances. This solution aims to improve scientific research on the dangers of drug addiction.
The new regulations also designate the Commander of the Central Police Investigation Bureau (CBŚP) as the authority competent to issue permits to take action against ships suspected of drug smuggling that exercise freedom of navigation.
In addition, the government is to work on a draft amendment to certain acts in order to support shipping companies and create conditions for their operation under the Polish flag. The planned regulation provides for an amendment to the Tonnage Tax Act. As explained in the list of legislative and program works of the Council of Ministers, the reason for the amendment is the need to provide shipping entrepreneurs with the opportunity to choose tonnage tax instead of corporate income tax, which is expected to have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the Polish shipping market.
The project provides that the preferential taxation system will be available not only to ships flying the Polish flag, but also to vessels flying the flag of European Union and European Economic Area countries. The solution is intended to adapt Polish regulations to the current practice of the European Commission regarding state aid and to meet the demands of shipowners.
The prepared amendment also assumes that tonnage tax will apply not only to shipowners, but also to ship managers, which is intended to increase the attractiveness of this instrument for shipping entrepreneurs. “However, it should be emphasized that the entry into force of the proposed regulations requires the European Commission to issue a positive decision on the compatibility of public aid with the internal market. Therefore, an appropriate clause will be included in the proposed regulations,” the list indicates.
The project also includes changes to the Maritime Labor Act, including the implementation of the 2022 amendments to the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention. They assume new obligations for shipowners, including: providing seafarers with access to the Internet, appropriate work clothes, free meals of specified standards and access to drinking water.
The Council of Ministers will also consider a draft resolution on the adoption of a program called “Programme for supporting the coking hard coal mining sector in Poland – protective benefits”. This is a government strategic document required for Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) to be covered by the provisions of the Act on the Operation of Hard Coal Mining, the so-called Mining Act.
The adoption of the resolution is necessary for the company's employees to be able to use protective tools, such as mining leaves, leaves for employees of mechanical coal processing plants and one-off cash severance pay. Deputy Minister of Energy Marian Zmarzły told PAP during the European Economic Congress in Katowice that the estimated cost of protective programs in the mining industry for the budget is approximately PLN 2 billion this year, including approximately PLN 560 million in JSW.
The government will also deal with a draft amendment to the Act on registered pledge and the register of pledges and the Road Traffic Law, as well as a draft act on special solutions related to the results of the evaluation of the quality of scientific activities for the years 2022–2025. (PAP)
andr/ sdd/
