Prof.dr Jowanka Jakubek – Lalik, Senior Research Fellow of INIS, recent visit to the European Union institutions marked more than a diplomatic engagement — it was a moment of reflection, urgency, and resolve. At the heart of her mission was a pressing question that resonates beyond borders: What will it take to fully restore the rule of law in Poland, and what is realistically possible within the current political limitations?

Hosted at the European Parliament, the roundtable discussion she joined was organized by MEP Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the Parliament, in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung office in Warsaw. The setting was fitting: a forum where democratic values are both upheld and contested, and where voices from across Europe come together to address the complex challenges facing the Union.

Alongside respected legal scholar Anna Wójcik and Polish MEP Krzysztof Śmiszek, Jowanka contributed to a dynamic conversation that moved beyond abstract principles to focus on concrete reform. The trio dissected the interplay between legal pathways, political realities, and institutional hurdles that define Poland’s current landscape. With political cohabitation — a situation where different political factions control various arms of government — and fragmented institutional authority, the path to reform is neither straightforward nor uncontested.

Despite an overarching sense of caution about the road ahead, Jowanka and her colleagues emphasized the importance of realism. Instead of idealistic overhauls, the discussion leaned toward pragmatic, incremental change. “Tangible results through compromise,” Jowanka stated, should be the guiding principle. This approach, she argued, doesn’t mean sacrificing core values, but rather navigating complexity with patience and clarity of purpose.

One of the most powerful takeaways from the session was the acknowledgment that Poland’s democratic challenges are not isolated. Across Europe, democratic backsliding, political polarization, and institutional stress are testing the very foundations of the rule of law. Jowanka underscored that restoring judicial independence and institutional credibility in Poland is part of a broader European effort — a shared responsibility to safeguard democratic norms across the Union.

Her visit concluded with a clear message: the defense of the rule of law demands vigilance, cooperation, and above all, persistence. Through her participation, Jowanka helped anchor the conversation in a spirit of constructive engagement — one that recognizes both the gravity of the moment and the need for collective, grounded solutions.