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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Poland’s incumbent President Andrzej Duda has signed into law a bill that will indefinitely protect so-called “strategic companies” from takeovers by foreign entities. The legislation will come into force on 24 July.
It replaces a temporary regulation, initially introduced five years ago as part of Covid-19-related reforms and subsequently extended until 24 July 2025 amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, under which firms deemed strategically important to the state can be placed under special protection.
Foreign forces want to “get their dirty paws” on Poland and “suck the blood out of our nation”, warns President @AndrzejDuda.
He calls on Poles to “open their eyes” and “elect patriotic politicians” who will not act as "governors" for foreign powers https://t.co/FZ9N7kfxqO
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 3, 2025
According to the development ministry, which prepared the amended bill, the unstable international situation and persistent global risks necessitate the introduction of indefinite investment controls.
The ministry gave the examples of the ongoing war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, tensions between China and Taiwan, the territorial claims of the United States against Canada and Denmark, and Donald Trump’s trade war.
The legislation be used to protect companies that operate in what the government considers strategic sectors of the economy – including defence, energy, telecommunications and banking, among others – and whose revenues in Poland exceeded the equivalent of €10 million (42.5 million zloty) in any of the two preceding financial years.
It primarily covers attempted takeovers by non-European Union actors, although in certain cases it can also be applied to EU entities.
The era of “naive globalisation” has ended and the time has come to “rebuild the national economy”, says Poland's @donaldtusk.
"Our task today is to act effectively, when necessary ruthlessly, and always in the interests of Polish companies and capital" https://t.co/sTRG5jqSMh
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 15, 2025
There are currently 23 companies protected by the legislation. Most are Polish state-owned firms, such as energy giants Orlen and Tauron, but the list also includes French-owned telecommunications operator Orange Polska and US-owned broadcaster TVN.
Previously, the powers to place companies under special protection belonged to the president of Poland’s consumer protection authority, UOKiK. The amended bill transfers those powers to the minister responsible for the economy.
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Main image credit: Marek Borawski/KPRM
Agata Pyka is an Assistant Editor at Notes from Poland. She specialises in Central and Eastern European affairs, cybersecurity, and investigative reporting. She holds a master’s degree in political communication from the University of Amsterdam, and her work has appeared in Euractiv, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), and The European Correspondent, among others.
