The modern state cannot merely administer current problems; it must also architect change. However, the Polish government is not currently playing the role of a strategic leader of transformation. According to WiseEuropa’s policy briefs, entitled Governing Transformation, the center of government has not become a permanent “strategic brain” of the state, capable of shaping and coordinating cross-cutting policies.
Ad hoc actions instead of strategy
The Prime Minister coordinates state policy, but in practice his actions often depend on the management style of the particular prime minister, the political landscape, and the current situation. Committees—such as the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers—focus on the final legislative details rather than on strategic public policy modeling.
The Government Work Programming Team, which could serve as a point of initial strategic analysis, conducts substantive reviews on an ad hoc basis, sometimes with elements of analysis, but not strategic or in-depth analysis. The result is a lack of a platform for jointly defining objectives and creating synergies between ministries.
Administration stuck in legal thinking
As the author of the analysis, Michał Wierzbowski, Senior Expert and Advisor at WiseEuropa, emphasizes, without a change in the work culture of the administration and the creation of mechanisms for horizontal cooperation, the center of government will not be able to respond effectively to the complex challenges of the 21st century. The government continues to operate according to a “legislative paradigm,” focusing on legal processes rather than integrated long-term planning. As a result, even the most complex issues, such as the energy transition, are analyzed in departmental silos, without a comprehensive approach. Decisions without a solid analytical basis
Furthermore, there is no permanent mechanism for integrating strategic analysis into political decision-making. According to the report, in Poland, analyses of future trends “reach the center of power incidentally, mainly through external reports or ad hoc commissions.” Without a solid base of foresight, strategic decisions resemble a “patchwork” rather than a well-thought-out vision for the country’s development.
Reform is needed — both institutional and cultural
If Poland is to effectively manage social, climate, and economic transformation, reform of the center of government is necessary — institutional and cultural alike. The state needs a strong leader who can think systemically, respond flexibly, and develop sustainable strategies based on knowledge, data, and social dialogue.
