In light of the growing plastic waste problem worldwide, including in agriculture, this study focuses on the usefulness of both conventional, non-degradable plastics and environmentally friendly bioplastics in the agricultural sector. Although conventional plastic products are still essential in modern, even ecological agriculture, the increasing contamination by these materials, especially in a fragmented form, highlights the urgent need to search for alternative, easily biodegradable materials that could replace the non-degradable ones. According to the literature, polymers are widely used in agriculture for the preparation of agrochemicals (mostly fertilizers) with prolonged release. They also play a role as functional polymers against pests, serve as very useful super absorbents of water to improve crop health under drought conditions, and are commonly used as mulching films, membranes, mats, non-woven fabrics, protective nets, seed coatings, agrochemical packaging, or greenhouse coverings. This widespread application leads to the uncontrolled contamination of soil with disintegrated polymeric materials. Therefore, this study highlights the possible applications of bio-based materials as alternatives to conventional polyolefins or other environmentally persistent polymers. Bio-based polymers align with the strategy of innovative agricultural advancements, leading to more productive farming by reducing plastic contamination and adverse ecotoxicological impacts on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. On the other hand, advanced polymer membranes act as catching agents for agrochemicals, protecting against environmental intoxication. The global versatility of polymer applications in agriculture will not permit the elimination of already existing technologies involving polymers in the near future. However, in line with ecological trends in modern agriculture, more “green” polymers should be employed in this sector. Moreover, we highlight that more comprehensive legislative work on these aspects should be undertaken at the European Union level to guarantee environmental and climate protection. From the EU legislation point of view, the implementation of a unified, legally binding system on applications of bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics should be a priority to be addressed. In this respect, the EU already demonstrates an initial action plan. Unfortunately, these are still projected directions for future EU policy, which require in-depth analysis.

The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Poland and, consequently, the introduction of the epidemic on March 20, 2020, influenced the decision not to hold the election of the President of the Republic of Poland scheduled for May 10, 2020. Therefore, in the face of objective difficulties in the organization of elections, a new voting deadline was set on June 28, 2020. Due to the prevailing global pandemic, the elections for the President of the Republic of Poland, ordered in 2020 with the possibility of postal voting, were conducted and prepared in exceptional circumstances. With this in mind, this article presents a number of various problems, and even limitations, of the electoral rights granted to each voter, which have become a consequence of the legal solutions introduced without in-depth analysis, often in a hurry. 1

Several years of the functioning of the extraordinary complaint provides an opportunity to reflect on the manner in which this legal remedy is used by those entitled to file it. In this regard, special attention shall be paid to the activities of the Public Prosecutor General, who showed the greatest activity in the years 2018–2023 in challenging final judicial decisions with an extraordinary complaint. This prompts an analysis of the practice of using this legal remedy by Public Prosecutor General, considering that he is a politically involved authority who also serves as Minister of Justice. The article attempts to answer the question whether the current construction of the extraordinary complaint, which includes the right of Public Prosecutor General to file this legal remedy, poses a potential risk of political instrumentalization of this institution. Based on the analysis of selected cases, the authors answer this question in the affirmative and provide de lege ferenda conclusions.

Election Commissioners – Evolution of Institutions after 2018

Przedmiotem analizy w artykule jest uchwalona przez Sejm RP 11 stycznia 2018 r. zmiana dotycząca kwestii ograniczenia możliwości kandydowania na wójta (burmistrza, prezydenta miasta) do dwóch kadencji, wprowadzona w Kodeksie wyborczym. Celem artykułu jest odniesienie się do przywoływanych różnych racji przemawiających za, jak i przeciwko m.in. takiemu rozwiązaniu, głównie natury czysto prawnej.