Cutting Red Tape for a Smarter Poland
Cutting Red Tape for a Smarter Poland: The Deregulation Movement Gathers Momentum
In Poland, a quiet but powerful revolution is underway — one that promises to reshape how laws are made, how businesses operate, and how citizens interact with the state. It’s called SprawdzaMY, a nationwide initiative dedicated to deregulation, transparency, and making life simpler for millions of people. At its heart is a bold but practical vision: remove unnecessary legal and bureaucratic hurdles, and unlock the full potential of Polish society and the economy. Backed by leading experts in law, digital transformation, healthcare, and local government, the initiative is rapidly gaining traction — both with policymakers and the public.
Deregulation with Purpose: What It Means
Poland, like many countries, has long struggled with legal clutter — outdated rules, overlapping procedures, and short-notice policy changes that make planning difficult for citizens and businesses alike. SprawdzaMY is working to change that through a simple but powerful model:
Identify the problem – Anyone can submit a legal absurdity or bureaucratic obstacle for review.
Evaluate impact – Experts and the public assess proposed reforms for their practicality and urgency.
Push for change – Validated proposals are forwarded to the government as formal legislative recommendations.
Monitor implementation – The team tracks whether reforms are adopted, creating transparency and accountability.
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Since its launch, 111 proposals have already been submitted to the government — some with real momentum behind them.
Notable Proposals Shaping the Future: Some of the deregulation ideas already gaining national attention include:
1. End to Sudden Tax Law Changes
A proposal to introduce a mandatory 12-month transition period (vacatio legis) for all tax law changes. This would give citizens and businesses time to prepare, plan finances, and avoid economic shocks.
2. A Humane Approach to Disability Certification
Currently, even people with permanent and incurable disabilities must undergo regular medical reviews to maintain their status. A proposed change would make such certifications indefinite — reducing stress, bureaucracy, and costs.
3. Simplified Debt Collection for Small Businesses
Small firms often wait months, even years, to recover payments. A proposal suggests using Poland’s e-Invoice system (KSeF) and standardized bookkeeping (JPK) to allow automated debt enforcement for verified unpaid invoices.
4. Medical Results in mObywatel App
Patients would have instant access to their diagnostic test results via Poland’s national e-ID app. This would eliminate scattered systems, simplify healthcare, and reduce the burden on clinics and patients alike.
A Nationwide Effort Backed by Experts
SprawdzaMY is powered by a coalition of respected professionals, including:
Dr. Maciej Kawecki, digitalization advocate and science popularizer
Anna Streżyńska, former Minister of Digital Affairs
Dr. Robert Gwiazdowski, legal scholar and reformist
Jakub Banaszek, mayor of Chełm and governance innovator
Dorota Korycińska, president of the Polish Oncological Federation
These voices, together with hundreds of contributors from government, business, and civil society, lend credibility and urgency to the movement.
Open Participation: Reform for Everyone
Unlike traditional think tanks or advisory bodies, SprawdzaMY is open-source in spirit. Anyone — from a solo entrepreneur to a local mayor — can:
Submit a reform idea through their online portal
Join the expert team if they bring legal, policy, or technical skills
Vote on proposals that affect their daily life or business
It’s deregulation by the people, for the people.
Why This Matters Now
In an age of economic uncertainty, geopolitical tension, and accelerating digital change, reducing friction in how countries operate isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Countries that simplify regulation, promote innovation, and restore trust in government will thrive. Those that don’t risk falling behind. Poland’s deregulation movement, led by SprawdzaMY, could become a blueprint for other nations facing similar challenges. Or as one of their guiding quotes — from anthropologist Margaret Mead — reminds us:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Change may start with one absurd regulation. But it doesn’t have to end there.
