Poland: press review for Thursday 15 October 2026

A European ruling relevant to bank customers, a postponed hearing, farm support and the European summit: four stories to understand the day.

Original AI-generated illustration: symbolic phone, card and scales. No real bank account or case is depicted.

Banks: European judges clarify refunds for unauthorised payments

The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on Thursday in case C-70/25, arising from a Polish dispute. The principle recalled is that alleging gross negligence by a customer does not, in itself, release a bank from immediately refunding an unauthorised payment. Poland’s Financial Ombudsman, Rzecznik Finansowy, emphasises the distinction between this refund and any subsequent debate about the customer’s liability. The ruling therefore means neither that every disputed payment will automatically be classed as unauthorised nor that the dispute is definitively closed once a refund is made. It is an important reference for consumers, to be read alongside the circumstances and exceptions laid down in the legislation.

Original AI-generated illustration: imagined courtroom and calendar. These are neither the actual room nor evidence in the proceedings.

Collegium Humanum: Thursday’s expected hearing postponed until 3 December

A change from the morning announcements: the first hearing expected on 15 October at Warsaw’s regional court in the Collegium Humanum case was postponed until 3 December 2026. According to PAP, reported by Rzeczpospolita among others, the prosecutor requested postponement because there was no proof that a summons had been delivered to one defendant, and the judge agreed. The case involves allegations of corruption and irregularities in documents relating to studies. The postponement concerns the hearing timetable; it is neither a decision on the merits nor a conviction of the people due to stand trial. The initially scheduled hearing must therefore be distinguished from the continuation now announced for December.

Original AI-generated illustration: fictional farm and application file. The scene depicts no beneficiary of the scheme.

Agriculture: almost 195,000 applications for fertiliser and fuel support

ARiMR, Poland’s agricultural support agency, had received almost 195,000 applications by 7:30 a.m. on Thursday: around 109,000 for farm fuel and almost 86,000 for fertilisers. Applications, open since 1 October, are due to continue until 23 October 2026 through Portal Rolnika. The scheme targets farmers meeting the announced conditions, for purchases made between 1 March and 31 August in the context of losses linked to the Middle East crisis. The number of applications received is not a count of grants already paid: eligibility and support amounts still need to be assessed. The agency states that a reduction coefficient may apply if demand exceeds the available funding.

Original AI-generated illustration: a symbolic vision of cooperation between Poland and the European Union. It does not depict a real meeting.

Europe: energy prices and the future budget on the summit agenda

European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels on 15 and 16 October for a summit whose agenda focuses particularly on competitiveness and high energy prices. The European Council also announces discussions on the 2028–2034 EU budget, support for Ukraine, hybrid attacks linked to Russia and migration. For Poland, these subjects connect with funding, industry and security concerns. At the time of this edition, we present the topics on the official agenda without treating expected guidance as decisions already adopted. The summit conclusions will distinguish agreements reached from proposals that remain under discussion.