The object of analysis in the present text is concerned with the Polish energy policy from the institutional-legal, forecast and problem aspect. In the first case, the analysis will focus on the statutory solutions related to the goals, tasks, the elements as well as the model of energy policy, also within the compass of the entities pursuing the energy policy in Poland. In the second case, scenarios for the development of an energy policy and their comparative analysis will be presented. In the third case, a selection of the Polish energy policy as well as challenges to the entities responsible for their implementation will be presented. The chief problem issues have been recognised as: (1) energy dependence, (2) energy monoculture, (3) a development level of renewable energy sources, including low-emission ones, (4) emission performance, and (5) energy efficiency. The individual issues, that is the selected diagnostic features of the energy policy, have been illustrated with the analyses of the index values. The following indexes have been considered crucial: (1) the energy dependence index, (2) the Stirling index, (3) the index of renewable energy use, (4) the emission performance indexes, and (5) the energy efficiency indexes. The main goal of the analysis is to present the crucial issues and challenges that the Polish energy policy is facing. In order that the research problem can be elaborated, the text features the following research questions: (1) To what extent do institutional and legal solutions affect the effectiveness of the energy policy pursued in Poland?, (2) Which one of the scenarios for the development of the Polish energy policy should be deemed most likely?, (3) Which ones of the problem issues singled out in the analysis should be regarded as the greatest challenge to the Polish energy policy? The analysis included in the text is of an informative character, and hence the conducted research will consist in elaboration of and a synthetic approach to secondary data. It is, however, to be noted that the collected quantitative and qualitative secondary data will be supplemented with the author’s own conclusions and opinions. In the case of the analysis of the quantitative secondary data, where the Stirling index is used, the author’s own calculations will be performed. In the case of the description of the term of energy policy and the subjective scope of energy policy, the legal-institutional approach has been adopted. In the case of the description of the forecasting aspects of Poland’s energy policy, a comparative analysis will be performed for the three exploratory scenarios contained in the draft energy policy of 2015. The objective scope of the analysis featuring in the text focuses on selected problems of the Polish energy policy. The text addresses three issues connected with the Polish energy policy: (1) institutional and legal, (2) forecasting, and (3) problem ones. In the first case, attention is given to the statutory solutions with regard to the goals, tasks, the model and the elements of the energy policy, as well as to the entities’ responsibility for its implementation. In the second case, scenarios for the development of the energy policy are presented; they have also been subjected to a brief comparative analysis. In the third case, attention is given to the presentation of the following issues: (1) energy dependence, (2) energy monoculture, (3) a development level of the renewable energy sources, (4) emission performance, and (5) energy efficiency. In order for the research problem to be elaborated, the text features the following research questions: (1) To what extent do institutional and legal solutions affect the effectiveness of the energy policy pursued in Poland?, (2) Which one of the scenarios for the development of the Polish energy policy should be deemed most likely?, (3) Which ones of the problem issues singled out in the analysis should be regarded as the greatest challenge to the Polish energy policy? 2 59 87 4 Środkowoeuropejskie Studia Polityczne