The Polish government's official portal, gov.pl, has published a detailed cookie policy outlining the types of cookies used and how users can manage their preferences. The policy categorizes cookies into three groups: strictly necessary cookies for site stability and security, functional cookies for remembering user preferences, and analytical cookies that require user consent. Users are informed that they can modify cookie settings through their browser, with instructions provided for popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari.
The move follows similar transparency efforts by other EU member states. On April 11, 2026, the German Bundespresseamt disclosed its use of the open-source Matomo analytics tool, emphasizing that data remains on its own servers and IP addresses are anonymized. Both initiatives align with the EU's broader push for digital simplification and user control over data. On November 19, 2025, European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen proposed a digital simplification package that includes streamlining cookie consent processes to reduce 'cookie banner fatigue,' aiming to cut administrative costs while maintaining privacy safeguards.
The Polish policy distinguishes between cookies that are essential for service delivery and those used for analytics, which require explicit consent. This reflects a balance between enabling website functionality and respecting user privacy, a key tension in EU digital regulation. The policy also notes that restricting cookies may affect certain website features, highlighting the trade-off between privacy and user experience. For businesses and public administrations, such detailed disclosures may increase compliance costs but also reduce legal uncertainty. Consumers benefit from clearer choices, though the burden of managing settings remains on the individual. The approach supports EU efforts to harmonize data practices while allowing member states to tailor implementations to national contexts.