The role of the Sejm in the process of Poland’s accession to the European Union

The authors discuss the Parliament’s tasks in relation to the accession process, which can be divided into several basic areas. The first is the creation of the constitutional framework to provide a national legal basis for the membership in the European Union. The Sejm also decided on the method of ratification of the Accession Treaty in the form of a referendum, having previously adopted the necessary provisions for its execution. The power of parliamentary scrutiny over the accession process was actively exercised. The Sejm conducted political supervision of the accession negotiation process, analysed the state budget and its implementation with a special focus on expenditures on integration aims, and monitored the use of pre-accession funds. Another area of the Sejm’s activity was the preparation of the legal framework for functioning after accession to the EU. The Sejm also participated in the process of European integration through its activities in the field of parliamentary diplomacy.