The European Commission is monitoring how Poland fulfills EU legislation on combating racism and xenophobia following a rise in attacks against Ukrainian citizens.
The Commission confirmed the monitoring to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in response to an inquiry about increased aggression against Ukrainians in Poland. Data from the Main Headquarters of the Polish Police showed Ukrainian citizens filed 30 percent more complaints to police in the first six months of 2026 than in the same period last year.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said the executive body condemns all forms of hate crime and hate speech. The spokesperson stated that the Commission will continue to support Ukrainians in connection with Russia's war of aggression for as long as necessary, adding that equal treatment, non-discrimination, and solidarity are fundamental EU principles.
The spokesperson recalled that the European Commission consistently provides dedicated EU funding to member states hosting Ukrainians. The Commission is monitoring the implementation of the EU Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia across all member states, specifically including Poland.
European Union Anti-Racism Directives
The European Commission explained that EU law obliges member states to criminalize hate speech and public incitement to violence, including actions based on national or ethnic origin. Member states must also treat racist or xenophobic motives as an aggravating circumstance when evaluating other criminal offenses.
The spokesperson added that a recently adopted revision of the Victims' Rights Directive further strengthens the rights, support, and protection of crime victims, particularly victims of hate crimes. Member states must quickly transpose the updated directive into national law and ensure its effective application.
Polish Law Enforcement Measures
Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar, who is finishing his term in office, spoke about increased accountability in Poland. In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Bodnar said the growth in official complaints may reflect stronger law enforcement detection and investigation of bias-motivated crimes, rather than solely an increase in attacks.
Bodnar said Polish legislation has changed to enforce liability for national-based hatred. Dedicated units within the Polish prosecutor's office now actively handle such cases, and officials issued a guidebook early this year advising Ukrainian citizens on how to respond to aggression or emergency situations.
Specialization within prosecutor's offices took effect in Poland in February 2026. The Ministry of Justice designated specific prosecutor offices to track and evaluate bias-motivated crimes regardless of where the incidents occurred.
