Poland changes judiciary law, demands EU release COVID funds

Warsaw hopes the bloc will launch pandemic restoration funds, saying it met the European Union’s calls for within the rule-of-law dispute.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shakes hands with Polish President Andrzej Duda following a joint press conference
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen shakes palms with Polish President Andrzej Duda [File: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP]

Poland has changed a controversial physique that disciplined judges with a brand new accountability panel to resolve a long-running dispute with the European Union over the nation’s judicial independence.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the chief of Poland’s ruling celebration, stated on Tuesday that he hoped the bloc would have a “correct” response to the transfer.

The EU has frozen billions of euros of pandemic funds for Poland over criticism of its rule of legislation report.

Kaczynski insisted that Poland has met the EU’s calls for for modifications to the laws on the judiciary.

“I hope the response will probably be correct and in step with the [EU] treaties,” Kaczynski stated, reiterating his long-term view that EU our bodies have been violating the bloc’s treaties of their strategy to Poland.

President Andrzej Duda signed the modifications to the disciplinary laws into legislation on Monday night.

Kaczynski additionally stated the conflict in Ukraine, Poland’s neighbour, has lately modified the EU’s strategy to the federal government in Warsaw for higher and there are some “parts of goodwill” to be seen.

Poland is supporting Ukraine’s battle in opposition to the Russian invasion and has taken in thousands and thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

Superficial modifications

Nonetheless, the modifications signed by Duda are largely seen as superficial and persevering with political management over judges, which is a key sticking level between Warsaw and Brussels.

The EU’s chief government, Ursula von der Leyen, has warned that no cash will probably be disbursed if Poland fails to succeed in “milestones” in granting judicial independence: abolishing the disciplinary chamber, rewriting its guidelines and permitting judges sanctioned or suspended by the chamber to have their circumstances reviewed.

The modifications authored by Duda take away the Supreme Courtroom’s Disciplinary Chamber, which has been used to sanction outspoken judges. Will probably be changed by a brand new accountability physique appointed by the president.

Solely one of many many judges disciplined for being crucial of the federal government’s actions has been reinstated, however was appointed to a special part of the court docket and despatched on depart.

Von der Leyen has confronted criticism final week from centrist lawmakers within the European Parliament after the European Fee, the EU’s government physique, conditionally accepted Poland’s pandemic restoration plan, opening the potential for disbursement of funds totaling about 36 billion euros ($38bn).

The lawmakers argued the choice was untimely, as Poland has failed to deal with the EU’s situations.

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