Nomination of Tymoteusz Adam Zych as Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
18. Februar 2021
Dear President and Vice-Presidents,
As members of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament, we write to you with concern over the recent taking up of functions of Tymoteusz Adam Zych as Polish Member in the EESC as of 21 September 2020.1 Mr Zych, registered as the Vice-president of the Board of Polish Non-Governmental Initiatives Confederacy, has been assigned to the Diversity Europe Group (Group III), specifically the sections for External Relations and Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship. Below, we highlight the reasons for our concern, which we ask you to take into careful consideration.
On the EESC’s website, the Diversity Europe Group is stated as being composed of members who, among others, represent “the family, women’s and gender equality issues, youth, minority and underprivileged groups, persons with disabilities […]”. We strongly welcome that the EESC gives such important consideration to these issues, especially after the publication of the recent EC Strategies under the “Union of Equality” heading. We refer of course to the Gender Equality2 and LGBTIQ Equality3 Strategies. However, this also explains why we are concerned over the influence that Mr Zych can exert in the Diversity Europe Group owing to his role as Vice-President of the Board of Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture, 4 which is conveniently omitted in his EESC page. As you might be aware, Ordo Iuris is an organisation which has long promoted anti-LGBTI, anti-women’s rights, anti-choice and anti-gender rhetoric in Poland, not least through its close ties with the Polish government’s policies on the matter.
On 26 November 2020, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on abortion rights in Poland5 carrying the following mention (bold added):
W. whereas on 28 October 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński encouraged people to defend traditional Polish values and protect churches ‘at all costs’, which led to acts of aggression against protesters by nationalistic hooligans; whereas cultural and religious values in Poland are thus being abused as reasons to impede the full realisation of women’s rights, equality for women and their right to make decisions about their own bodies; whereas a fundamentalist organisation, Ordo Iuris, which is closely linked to the ruling coalition, has been a driving force behind campaigns aiming to undermine human rights and gender equality in Poland, including attempts to ban abortion, calls for Poland’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and calls for the creation of ‘LGBTI-free zones’;
Ordo Iuris equally represents the interests of the “Agenda Europe” think tank6 which aims, according to its own manifesto, to “reverse the ‘achievements of the cultural revolution’ of the 60’s in Europe”. As reported by the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights (EPF)7 and later the Grand Coalition for Equality and Choice (a coalition of nearly 100 human rights NGOs)8: “The ‘cultural revolution’ that they aim at reversing and against which they operate is nothing else but emancipation of women, recognition of their equal rights, as well as equality of LGBT+ persons, national and ethnic
minorities in both public and private sphere.”
– Do the president and vice-presidents consider that, owing to his role as Vice-President of the Board of Ordo Iuris, Mr Zych will be in capacity to truly represent “the family, women’s and gender equality issues, youth, minority and underprivileged groups, persons with disabilities”, with a view to fighting discrimination against such groups, as stipulated in the core work of the Diversity Europe Group? Should his nomination pose a problem to furthering the work of this Group, what action could you envisage?
– Do you consider that, owing to Ordo Iuris’ role in providing legal support to municipalities that have adopted resolutions on being free of LGBTI ideology and of Charters of Family Values, Mr Zych’s work on the LGBTIQ Strategy may raise serious conflicts of interest? If so, which measures can you take to address the situation?
– Do you consider that, owing to Ordo Iuris’ role as a driving force in the campaigns that aim to undermine gender equality in Poland, including the ban on abortion, Mr Zych’s work in the field of gender equality may contribute to restrict, rather than protect and ensure, gender equality policies? If so, which measures can you take to address the situation?
Thank you for your answer to these questions.
Your sincerely,
Marc ANGEL, Co-Chair, LGBTI Intergroup (S&D)
Terry REINTKE, Co-Chair, LGBTI Intergroup (Greens-EFA, Vice-President)
Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (EP Vice-President, Non-attached)
Liesje SCHREINEMACHER, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (Renew Europe)
Malin BJÖRK, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (The Left)
Maria WALSH, Vice-President, LGBTI Intergroup (EPP)
Frédérique RIES, Vice-President, Renew Europe
Alice KUHNKE, Vice-President, Greens/European Free Alliance
Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD, Vice-President, Greens/European Free Alliance
Sira REGO, Vice-President, The Left
Cyrus ENGERER (S&D)
Dietmar KÖSTER (S&D)
Evelyne GEBHARDT (S&D)
Gabriele BISCHOFF (S&D)
Giuliano PISAPIA (S&D)
Giuseppina PICIERNO (S&D)
Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew Europe)
Irène TOLLERET (Renew Europe)
Karen MELCHIOR (Renew Europe)
Karin KARLSBRO (Renew Europe)
Łukasz KOHUT (S&D)
Manu PINEDA (The Left)
Magdalena ADAMOWICZ (EPP)
Manuel BOMPARD (The Left)
Monika VANA (Greens-EFA)
Pernando BARRENA (The Left)
Radka MAXOVÁ (Renew Europe)
Rasmus ANDRESEN (Greens-EFA)
Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D)
Rosa D’AMATO (Greens-EFA)
Saskia BRICMONT (Greens-EFA)
Sophie IN’T VELD (Renew Europe)
Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D)
Sylwia SPUREK (Greens-EFA)
1 EESC’ Members Page, https://memberspage.eesc.europa.eu/Search/Details?personId=2038862 (consulted on January 252021).
2 European Commission, “A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025”, COM(2020) 152 final, accessible at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0152.
3 European Commission, “A Union of Equality: LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025”, COM(2020) 698 final, accessible at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0698.
4 Ordo Iuris, “Tymoteusz Zych Ph.D., accessible at https://en.ordoiuris.pl/tymoteusz-zych-ph-d (consulted on 25 January2021).
5 European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2020 on the de facto ban on the right to abortion in Poland (2020/2876(RSP)), accessible at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0336_EN.html.
6 „Restoring the Natural Order, An Agenda for Europe“, accessible at https://agendaeurope.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/rtno2014.pdf.
7 “Restoring the Natural Order: The religious extremists’ vision to mobilize European societies against human rights on sexuality and reproduction”, accessible at https://www.epfweb.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/rtno_epf_book_lores.pdf. 8 „Cultural and religious counterrevolution. Is Polish Law under the Threat of Christian Fundamentalists’ Ideology? Publication
– Context and Summary“, accessible at https://www.wielkakoalicja.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/OI_EN_wer-2.pdf.
gruenrasmus
Rasmus Andresen 🇪🇺🏳️🌈Follow
Während politische Bestechungsskandale Fahrt aufnehmen, erstmal gemütlich politische Satire schauen. Wann äußern Sie sich eigentlich zu #schwarzerFilz @Markus_Soeder ?
Große Vorfreude: Gleich Fastenpredigt vom #Nockherberg live im BR. Diesmal sind wir alle digital am Bildschirm dabei. Aber eine Ehre gilt wie immer: Der erste Schluck für den MP 😄
Was sagt eigentlich @TKuban96 zu den Korruptionsvorwürfen gegenüber seinen Parteifreunden? Oder ist er zu sehr mit #Habeck und @SusanneHennig befasst?
#CDUrausausderRegierung
Die Angst vor der #Inflation ist unbegründet. Viel mehr Sorge sollte uns weiterhin die Konjunktur machen. Ein wirklich gutes Interview von @JosephEStiglitz #EconTwitter
.#Coronakrise und #Konjunktur "Die Inflationswarner liegen völlig daneben" + "#Europa muss mehr tun"!
Deutliche Worte von @JosephEStiglitz im @handelsblatt-Interview!
https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/interview-us-oekonom-joseph-stiglitz-die-inflationswarner-liegen-voellig-daneben-/26961354.html
Zur Diskussion zwischen Robert Habeck und @c_lindner (sind die Risikogruppen schon per Impfung geschützt?) noch folgende ernüchternde Statistik. #Illner
Seems like there is a majority in the @EP_Industry for interoperability on online messenger services. In a debate with @vestager speakers from all main groups in the 🇪🇺 Parliament spoke in favour of fair competition in online communication and obligations of messenger services.
Ich finde, dass Politiker*innen die keinen klaren Kompass für Rechtsstaatlichkeit & Demokratie haben, keine Regierungsverantwortung mehr tragen sollten.
Alexander Dobrindt zu #Fidesz: „Ich bedaure diesen Schritt. Das kann langanhaltende und weitreichende Folgen für die EVP-Parteienfamilie haben und wird auch auf den europäischen Einigungsprozess eine negative Wirkung haben.“
Rasmus Andresen
Rasmus Andresen
18 hours ago
Wir Grüne fordern die EU-Kommission dazu auf, Interoperabilität für Onlinemessenger einzuführen. Das bedeutet, dass wir zukünftig etwa von Whatsapp Nachrichten zu Signal schicken können.
Und langsam bewegt sich auch die Kommission... ... See MoreSee Less
Video
Rasmus Andresen
3 days ago
„Wir müssen deutlich mehr investieren in digitale Infrastruktur, schnelles Internet überall beispielsweise, oder aber auch in die Digitalisierung der Verwaltung. Es ist nicht so, dass nichts passiert, aber im Vergleich zu den baltischen Ländern oder Skandinavien ist das, was in Deutschland passiert, doch eher lächerlich.“
Mein Interview mit der Deutschen Welle. ... See MoreSee Less
Grüne: "Mehr digitales Engagement in der EU dringend nötig" | DW | 03.03.2021
www.dw.com
Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel und drei weitere Regierungschefinnen aus der Europäischen Union fordern mehr digitale Kompetenz in Europa. Ja, aber wie? Was hält der Grüne Rasmus Andresen von Merkels...Rasmus Andresen war live.
4 days ago
The Digital Markets Act - how to break the market dominance of Big Tech ... See MoreSee Less
Video
Rasmus Andresen
4 days ago
Ohne euch läuft nix!
Ich unterstütze die Aktion der IG BAU in Flensburg für bessere Arbeitsbedingungen für Reinigungskräfte. ... See MoreSee Less
Photo
Rasmus Andresen
5 days ago
Ökonomische Machtkonzentration und kaputte Märkte schaden uns Europäerinnen und Europäern und sind Demokratie-zersetzend. Deshalb:
Wir brauchen eine gemeinsame europäische Antwort. Wir können nicht darauf warten, dass andere für uns den Job machen. Wir brauchen europäische digitale Souveränität und ein Regelwerk für digitale Gatekeeper. ... See MoreSee Less
EU-Regeln für Google, Amazon und Facebook - Digitale Oligopole schaden Demokratie und Wirtschaft
www.cicero.de
Mit dem „Digital Markets Act“ und dem „Digital Services Act“ will die EU-Kommission große Digitalkonzerne deutlich stärker regulieren. Mehr Transparenz und Kontrolle soll es geben. Für die ...Rasmus Andresen
7 days ago
Auf einem toten Planeten gibt es keine Schulden. Die Covid Krise, die Klimakrise und die soziale Spaltung unserer Gesellschaft. Wir befinden uns in vielen Krisen.
Finanzpolitik muss auf diese Krisen reagieren und darf nicht tatenlos zusehen. In Deutschland meinen viele, dass kommende Generationen darunter leiden, wenn der Staat Schulden machen.
Das Gegenteil ist der Fall. Wenn wir als Reaktion auf die Covid Schulden kein Geld mehr in Bildung, Infrastruktur oder Klimainvestitionen stecken, werden wir alle verlieren.
Lasst uns nicht den Fehler aus früheren Finanzkrisen wiederholen und unseren Staat kaputt kürzen. Wir müssen jetzt Schulden machen um eine Zukunft zu haben. ... See MoreSee Less
Video