Commercial presentation Update: 05/06/2024 12:45 p.m
Issued by: 05/06/2024, 12:45 p.m
Brussels – There is no longer a risk of a serious violation of the rule of law in Poland, the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, announced today. The European Union will therefore end proceedings over the state of the rule of law, which Warsaw has faced for more than six years. The so-called procedure under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union was launched against Poland in 2017. The European Commission particularly criticized the interventions of the previous Polish government of the Law and Justice Party (PiS) in the judiciary and froze billions of EU funds to Warsaw because of it.
“Today marks the opening of a new chapter for Poland,” https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1787423460785807806 on the X von der Leyen social network. “We believe that after more than six years the Article 7 procedure can be closed,” she added, congratulating Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government for the reforms they have implemented in the country in recent months. The previous cabinet ruled from 2015 to 2023 and Tusk took office last December.
“The European Commission has today completed its analysis of the situation in the area of the rule of law in Poland in connection with the proceedings under Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union. The Commission considers that there is no longer a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland under Article 7(1) “, said the Union executive. She added that Poland has started working on a number of legislative and non-legislative measures aimed at dispelling concerns related to the independence of the Polish judicial system. Warsaw also recognized the supremacy of EU law and “is determined to apply all rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights related to the rule of law,” the commission added.
EC Vice-President Věra Jourová also welcomed “the positive trend established by the Polish authorities with the aim of restoring an independent judiciary”. “We need to continue working, but the steps taken so far allow us to come to the conclusion that there is no longer a risk of a serious violation of the principles of the rule of law,” said Jourová, who is the European Commissioner for Values and Transparency and has also temporarily taken over the area of justice.
“Great news from Brussels!” https://twitter.com/Adbodnar/status/1787441653696856183 on the X network Polish Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar and thanked the head of the EC for cooperation and support. According to him, the rule of law will return to Poland. “We are determined and committed to our common European values,” he added.
At the end of February this year, the Polish Minister of Justice brought to Brussels an action plan for reforms that should lead to the restoration of the rule of law in the country. He presented the plan at a meeting of Union ministers for European affairs. The European Commission subsequently carried out a new analysis of the situation in Poland and sent information about its results to the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.
Jourová will now present the analysis to the representatives of the member states at the upcoming meeting of ministers for European affairs, which should take place on May 21. Then, taking into account any Member States’ comments, the Commission will formally terminate the Article 7 procedure. However, as the EU executive added, it will continue to regularly monitor the situation in Poland.
Poland EU law EC diplomacy FLESH
