Poland prepares law for "pre-war state": seeks to allow troops to respond faster to threats
Poland’s Ministry of National Defence is working on a law to regulate state action in conditions of heightened threat before martial law is formally introduced. In particular, the new rules would allow faster troop movements and the preparation of infrastructure to meet the military’s needs.
According to Censor.NET, citing Polskie Radio, the draft law on the state’s defence readiness is undergoing internal consultations within Poland’s Ministry of National Defence.
According to the outlet, the legislation would fill the legal gap between the state’s peacetime functioning and the formal introduction of martial law. In Poland, this period is informally called a "pre-war state".
The Polish Defence Ministry says the changes aim to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities, improve cooperation between the armed forces and internal security services, and adapt legislation to modern threats, including hybrid threats, cyber threats and disinformation.
The new rules would enable Polish and allied troops to be moved to designated areas earlier. They would also link Poland’s Defence Response Plan to NATO’s response system and allow the necessary infrastructure to be prepared in advance.
There are also plans to expand the range of institutions involved in the system of continuous defence duty and the management of national defence. The changes would also cover operational planning in the non-military sphere, defence exercises, training and courses.
Poland’s Defence Ministry says the new law is needed because the current rules on defence preparations and the management of national defence are scattered across several government regulations. According to the ministry, this makes it harder to ensure coordinated action by state bodies and other organisations involved in the defence system.
The draft is currently undergoing internal consultations within the Polish Defence Ministry. No date has yet been set for its submission to the Sejm.
