It is crucial to maintain the political equality among the member states, which is fundamental to the community. At the same time we have to counteract the natural tendencies to create a hierarchy inside the E.U.

The quote by Andrzej Duda emphasizes the importance of preserving political equality among member states within the European Union (E.U.). He argues that such equality is fundamental to the strength and unity of the community, as it ensures that smaller nations have the same voice and influence as larger, more powerful ones. At the same time, Duda warns against the natural tendency for a hierarchy to emerge, where stronger or wealthier countries dominate decision-making.

The origin of this quote comes from Duda’s role as the President of Poland, a nation that has often stressed the importance of sovereignty and equal standing within the E.U.. Poland, like other Central and Eastern European countries, has expressed concerns that policies and decision-making are sometimes dominated by larger states such as Germany and France. Duda’s words reflect both a defense of national independence and a call for a more balanced European community.

By highlighting the need to counteract hierarchy, Duda is pointing to one of the central challenges facing the E.U.: balancing integration with equality. While cooperation requires collective decisions, there is always a risk that some countries will wield disproportionate power. Duda suggests that without genuine equality, the trust and cohesion of the union could be undermined.

Ultimately, the quote underscores a key tension in European politics—how to maintain unity while respecting the sovereignty and equal status of all members. Duda’s perspective reflects Poland’s broader stance on ensuring that the E.U. remains a partnership of equals, rather than a structure where smaller states are overshadowed by the ambitions of larger ones.