A Polish Member of the European Parliament, Grzegorz Braun, has sparked controversy after removing the European Union flag from a government building in Katowice, southern Poland, wiping his shoes with it and later setting it on fire.
The incident occurred on May 6, 2025, at Poland’s Ministry of Industry during what Braun described as a parliamentary intervention concerning the country’s mining sector.
In a video circulated on social media, Braun is seen removing the European Union flag from its position alongside the Polish national flag before throwing it to the floor and using it to clean his shoes.
He subsequently left the building with the flag and later burned it in front of a monument commemorating miners killed during the 1981 crackdown at the Wujek coal mine.
While carrying out the protest, Braun declared: “This is Poland, not Brussels,” insisting that European Union symbols should not be displayed in Polish government institutions.
The outspoken politician has repeatedly criticised the European Union, arguing that its policies and influence undermine Poland’s national sovereignty and independence.
His actions have, however, attracted significant criticism and raised questions about the legal implications of removing and destroying official property.
Following the incident, Poland’s Ministry of Industry reported the matter to the police, while the regional governor also notified prosecutors over the burning of the flag.
The controversy later became part of a criminal investigation. In November 2026, prosecutors announced that Braun had been indicted over several alleged offences, including the removal of the European Union flag from the ministry. The indictment is an allegation, not a conviction.
The incident has reignited discussions about national sovereignty, European integration and the limits of political protest within the European Union.
