In a rapidly changing and unpredictable legislative environment, public affairs actions are gaining importance as a strategic tool that delivers real business benefits. Public affairs, understood as a set of organized actions aimed at building relationships with stakeholders, institutions, and the public, today form the foundation of effective strategic communication in the context of changing regulations and social expectations.
PR practitioners, public relations specialists, corporate communication experts, and representatives of non-governmental organizations actively involved in public affairs are currently closely monitoring legal changes and government initiatives that may have a real impact on decisions made at local, national, and European levels.
Public affairs activities are becoming an integral part of strategy, enabling effective regulatory risk management and supporting the shaping of a positive image of an organization in the eyes of the public.
The importance of public affairs in organizational communication
In an age of accelerating digitization and the growing role of social media, PR activities and broad media and social media presence are increasingly integrated with public affairs tools. Effective strategic communication today requires not only developing accurate press messages or running effective online campaigns, but also building and maintaining lasting relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers – both at the national and European levels.
The use of ethical public affairs tools, such as lawful lobbying, crisis management, public opinion research, and participation in social consultations, has become an indispensable part of professional relationship management with the institutional environment.
The definition of public affairs today includes both media relations and activities aimed at genuine social engagement through active participation of individuals and organizations in public debate.
Overview of the most important PA events
Deregulation on the horizon
Deregulation is increasingly becoming one of the key directions of the Polish government’s actions in the context of improving business conditions and increasing the competitiveness of the Polish economy. In February 2025, the Prime Minister of Poland announced the creation of a special advisory team tasked with developing a comprehensive deregulation package. It will be headed by RafaĹ‚ Brzoska, CEO of InPost – a leader in last-mile logistics. It has been announced that by June 1, 2025, 400 deregulation proposals covering a wide range of economic sectors will be developed.
The first round of deregulation solutions, which has already been submitted for further processing by the government administration, covers key areas for economic development: transport, energy, construction and the IT sector. These proposals are systemic in nature and respond to challenges long signaled by the business community related to excessive bureaucracy, fragmentation of regulations, and the high cost of their implementation.
Particular attention should be paid to the solutions included in the first package adopted by the Council of Ministers in March 2025, which include, among others:
- Shortening the duration of inspections for micro-entrepreneurs – from 12 to 6 working days;
- Introducing the obligation to inform the entrepreneur in advance about the scope of the inspection along with the list of required documents;
- The possibility to lodge an objection to inspection activities in certain situations;
- Limiting the frequency of inspections – for low-risk companies no more often than once every 5 years;
- Reducing the number of required certificates and documents in administrative processes;
- Introducing the “one in, one out” principle – each new regulation must be balanced by eliminating another;
- Facilitating handling matters electronically – increasing the number of e-services available to entrepreneurs;
- Strengthening the transparency of the legislative process – including mandatory consultations with stakeholders and impact assessments of regulations.
According to declarations by government representatives and the authors of the package, the proposed solutions aim to significantly simplify administrative procedures, lower barriers to market entry, and accelerate investment processes, which in turn will positively impact the operational efficiency of companies and the stability of the economic environment.
From the perspective of the business sector, the implementation of the deregulation package may provide a significant developmental boost – especially in heavily regulated areas such as infrastructure and energy. It is expected that deregulation in these sectors will increase Poland’s investment attractiveness and improve the competitiveness of Polish companies in the European and global markets.
It is also worth emphasizing the international aspect: in May 2025, a visit of an expert delegation to Copenhagen is planned, where Polish representatives will discuss with Danish partners the possibility of continuing and internationalizing deregulation efforts within the framework of Denmark’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on July 1, 2025.
Poland is actively initiating talks with other EU member states to implement a European deregulation model that would be coordinated and long-term in nature. Such actions fit into the broader context of strengthening the competitiveness of the European Union’s economy in the face of dynamic geopolitical and technological changes.
From the point of view of corporate stakeholders and teams dealing with public affairs, compliance, and regulatory risk management, updating knowledge about the direction and scope of planned deregulations becomes an essential element of preparing organizations for upcoming legislative changes. Monitoring the activities of the deregulation team and their European context should be included in companies’ strategic plans for the second half of 2025 and beyond.
The Windmill Act – one step closer towards renewable energy sources (RES)
Changes in the energy sector, particularly in renewable energy sources (RES), are a topic that sparks intense discussions in Poland. The amendment to the so-called wind turbine law, aimed at changing the regulations on the distance of wind turbines from buildings, has entered a key legislative phase. According to the proposed changes, the planned minimum distance of turbines from buildings will be reduced from 700 m to 500 m.
The bill has already been submitted to the Sejm and is currently in the Infrastructure Committee, which is an important step towards finalizing the entire legislative process. This could have great significance in light of the upcoming presidential elections, as the law’s enactment will largely depend on the new President of Poland.
Key changes in the amendment to the wind turbine law:
- Abolition of the 10H rule. The previously applicable 10H rule, which limited the location of wind turbines to distances no less than ten times their height from buildings, is replaced by a minimum distance of 500 meters. ​
- Environmental restrictions. Introduction of minimum distances of turbines from the borders of national parks (1500 m) and Natura 2000 areas (500 m) to protect natural habitats. ​
- Extension of the virtual prosumer scheme: The amendment allows residents of municipalities neighboring the locations of wind farms to benefit from the virtual prosumer scheme, increasing access to self-produced energy. ​
- Facilitation of modernization of existing wind farms (repowering): The new regulations provide for simplified procedures related to the modernization of existing wind turbines, aimed at increasing their efficiency and performance. ​
- Shortening investment time: Thanks to the amendment, the time for implementing new wind farm investments is to be shortened to 3-5 years, and the modernization of existing installations to 2.5 years.
- Increase in potential new wind capacity: It is estimated that due to changes in the wind turbine law, up to 10 GW of new wind capacity may be developed by 2030, significantly contributing to the increase of RES share in the national energy mix. ​
The amendment to the wind turbine law represents a significant step towards increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the Polish energy system. For RES sector enterprises and investors, this means new opportunities for the development of wind projects, both through the construction of new installations and the modernization of existing ones. From the perspective of local governments and communities, these changes may bring benefits in the form of increased revenues to local budgets and the creation of new jobs.​
In the context of the upcoming presidential elections, the finalization of the legislative process and the entry into force of the amendment will depend on the new president’s decisions. Therefore, for stakeholders in the energy sector, it is crucial to monitor the further stages of the legislative process and prepare for potential changes in the regulatory environment.
The State Digitalization Strategy is almost ready
Digitalization is not only technology but also an important part of the strategy aimed at enabling Poland to better adapt to the demands of the 21st century. The project, currently in its final phase, foresees simplifying administrative processes, supporting SMEs in digitalization, and developing new technologies. Thanks to this, Polish companies will gain access to digital tools that will streamline management and increase competitiveness.
The document is to be officially adopted by the end of 2025, with full implementation of the strategy starting in 2026. According to the Ministry of Digitalization’s announcements, there is currently a wait for EU changes regarding investment financing and the finalization of comments submitted during public consultations.
Presidential campaign in full swing
The upcoming 2025 presidential elections, scheduled for May 18, are increasingly taking shape in public debate. The election campaign has already entered a phase of full action intensification, and the first debate of the candidates for President of the Republic of Poland set important directions for media narratives and communication priorities of the individual teams.
In the current political and communication dynamics, it is crucial not only to follow ongoing events but also to conduct an in-depth analysis of their potential consequences for the broadly understood regulatory and economic environment.
According to the latest United Surveys poll for DGP and RMF FM, the favored candidate remains Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 28.9% support from respondents. This result—while allowing him to maintain the leader position—does not give him a chance to win in the first round.
Thus, the scenario of a second round becomes increasingly likely, in which the Civic Coalition candidate may face either the representative of Law and Justice, Karol Nawrocki, currently polling at 25.6%, or the Confederation’s candidate, Sławomir Mentzen, who was indicated by 12.4% of respondents.
From the perspective of stakeholders in the business sector, the choice of the new President of Poland is strategically significant. The head of state has important tools to influence the legislative environment, including the prerogative to veto laws that can either support entrepreneurship development or limit it. Therefore, analyzing candidates’ programs regarding their stance on economic, climate, energy, and fiscal policy is essential—especially in the context of ongoing transformations in the energy sector and green modernization of the economy.
For specialists in public affairs, corporate communication, and regulatory risk management, ongoing monitoring of the campaign and election forecasts is an indispensable element when planning long-term communication and investment strategies. Skillfully mapping potential political scenarios allows better preparation for possible legal environment changes and facilitates building relationships with decision-makers regardless of the final election outcome.
In the context of the 2025 presidential elections, organizations operating in Poland should already take preventive and analytical measures that will allow them to flexibly respond to changing political conditions, ensuring operational stability and compliance with future regulations.
Poland’s Presidency of the EU Council – what has been achieved and what lies ahead?
From January 2025, Poland holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, focusing on strengthening the competitiveness of the EU economy and simplifying regulations for businesses.
As part of the presidency, actions have been taken to:
- remove barriers to cross-border economic activity,
- facilitate access to capital,
- reduce bureaucratic burdens.
This had a direct impact on improving business conditions in Poland and across the European Union.
Plans for the second half of the presidency include continuing work on improving support mechanisms for industry in areas important for security, as well as further actions to restore fair competition conditions for EU industry in relations with global competitors.
How to prepare a public affairs strategy for the upcoming changes?
The changing regulatory and political environment requires organizations to be flexible, adaptable, and capable of quickly responding to new market conditions.
A key aspect of effective action becomes not only ongoing monitoring of legislative processes, but also the skillful use of available public affairs tools, such as:
- media relations,
- monitoring market reactions to legislative changes,
- building relationships with key stakeholders,
- training teams responsible for strategic communication.
Developing and implementing a public affairs strategy based on risk analysis, needs, and the possibilities of a given entity allows for better preparation for dynamic changes occurring at local, national, and EU levels. This approach enables organizations to navigate the complex institutional environment effectively and adapt communication activities to current realities.
The use of ethical public affairs tools can bring significant business benefits — from strengthening relationships with the environment, through better understanding of legislative intentions, to increasing the organization’s capacity to engage in dialogue during public consultations.
Public affairs, as a multidisciplinary area combining strategic communication, public relations, stakeholder and institutional relationship management, as well as lobbying activities, is becoming an essential element of managing a modern organization. The use of legal, ethical public affairs tools and their adaptation to the specificity of the organization allows for maximizing the impact of communication on the regulatory and social environment, contributing to achieving sustainable competitive advantages.
