Same-sex partnerships policy in Poland: the EU impact

This research explores the level of influence that the European Union has on policy development in its member states. I examine the issue from the perspective developed by a group of authors whose theoretical approaches can be united under the label of the ‘Europeanisation school’. Today the theoretical framework explaining the influence of the EU on member states is still developing. In many aspects, it remains controversial or incomplete. One of the existing gaps is the impact of the EU on member states’ policy areas where it has limited competences. In this thesis, I explore one such area at the junction of family law and LGBT rights. The main goal of this research is to investigate whether in circumstances of limited legal powers the EU still has an impact on domestic policy aimed to legalize the rights of same-sex couples. In this research, as a case study I take Poland, where in the last 10 years numerous attempts by the LGBT community to introduce a reform, which would recognize same-sex couples, were blocked by domestic decision-makers. Thus, my main objective can be translated into the main question of this research: How important is the role of the EU in the development of same-sex partnerships policy in Poland? By answering this question, I critically assess if contemporary theoretical approaches of the ‘Europeanisation school’ have the capacity to explain the mechanisms of the EU’s influence on domestic policy in the area of same-sex partnerships in Poland. This will highlight gaps in the theory that require further exploration. I will provide the ideas on how these gaps can be bridged in a single theoretical framework.In this research, I link the theoretical domain with the practicalities of policy development. This is facilitated by the empirical data, which I gathered through elite interviews with experts on the issue of same-sex partnerships’ policy development in Poland and the role of the EU in this process. By testing the theory with the empirical data, I will complement the knowledge base in the field as well as elaborate the exiting theoretical framework. By exploring the case of same-sex partnerships’ policy in Poland, I highlight the challenges LGBT rights advocates experience and the solutions they work out to achieve their goals. Additionally, I will provide successful and unsuccessful examples of policy development in the region. This knowledge will be beneficial for local policy-makers to better understand the perspective of policy advocates, as well as for the EU level actors to reflect on the Unions’ approach to the issue. Contrariwise, policy advocates from Poland will be able to reflect on their strategy, relations with EU institutions, local politicians and the Polish public. Finally, the research will provide insights for advocates from other EU states on the work of their colleagues in Poland. Hence, the research attempts to contribute to an understanding of the EU’s powers to influence policy formation in member states as well as the development of LGBT rights agenda in Europe.This research explores the level of influence that the European Union has on policy development in its member states. I examine the issue from the perspective developed by a group of authors whose theoretical approaches can be united under the label of the ‘Europeanisation school’. Today the theoretical framework explaining the influence of the EU on member states is still developing. In many aspects, it remains controversial or incomplete. One of the existing gaps is the impact of the EU on member states’ policy areas where it has limited competences. In this thesis, I explore one such area at the junction of family law and LGBT rights. The main goal of this research is to investigate whether in circumstances of limited legal powers the EU still has an impact on domestic policy aimed to legalize the rights of same-sex couples. In this research, as a case study I take Poland, where in the last 10 years numerous attempts by the LGBT community to introduce a reform, which would recognize same-sex couples, were blocked by domestic decision-makers. Thus, my main objective can be translated into the main question of this research: How important is the role of the EU in the development of same-sex partnerships policy in Poland? By answering this question, I critically assess if contemporary theoretical approaches of the ‘Europeanisation school’ have the capacity to explain the mechanisms of the EU’s influence on domestic policy in the area of same-sex partnerships in Poland. This will highlight gaps in the theory that require further exploration. I will provide the ideas on how these gaps can be bridged in a single theoretical framework.In this research, I link the theoretical domain with the practicalities of policy development. This is facilitated by the empirical data, which I gathered through elite interviews with experts on the issue of same-sex partnerships’ policy development in Poland and the role of the EU in this process. By testing the theory with the empirical data, I will complement the knowledge base in the field as well as elaborate the exiting theoretical framework. By exploring the case of same-sex partnerships’ policy in Poland, I highlight the challenges LGBT rights advocates experience and the solutions they work out to achieve their goals. Additionally, I will provide successful and unsuccessful examples of policy development in the region. This knowledge will be beneficial for local policy-makers to better understand the perspective of policy advocates, as well as for the EU level actors to reflect on the Unions’ approach to the issue. Contrariwise, policy advocates from Poland will be able to reflect on their strategy, relations with EU institutions, local politicians and the Polish public. Finally, the research will provide insights for advocates from other EU states on the work of their colleagues in Poland. Hence, the research attempts to contribute to an understanding of the EU’s powers to influence policy formation in member states as well as the development of LGBT rights agenda in Europe