European Commission asks court to punish Poland



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The European Commission on Tuesday asked the European Union Court of Justice to impose daily fines on Poland until it issues an order suspending reforms it believes are undermining the independence of the judiciary.

The dispute over Poland’s attempt to introduce a new system of judicial discipline is just one of a series of sharp disagreements between the EU and the right-wing government in Warsaw.

The government of Prime Minister Mateusz Moravecki has already accused the EC of “blackmailing” a proposal that the bloc could withhold funds for post-pandemic recovery unless Warsaw adopts the rule of law in the EU.

The ongoing case before the Supreme Court of the European Union over Polish judicial reform could ultimately lead to heavy fines for the country, as Warsaw has ignored an order to suspend disciplinary proceedings.

“Justice systems throughout the European Union must be independent and fair,” EC President Urzula von der Lajen said in a statement on the Commission’s decision to enforce the order.

“The rights of EU citizens must be guaranteed in the same way, wherever they live in the European Union,” he added.

Polish Deputy Justice Minister Sebastian Kaleta retaliated on Twitter.

“The European Commission is illegally blocking funds from Poland and asking for fines. These are acts of aggression,” Kaleta wrote on Twitter, calling the move an “illegal attack.”

LGBT Free Zones

In July, the EU Supreme Court ordered Poland to suspend its new disciplinary proceedings against judges, including a panel that oversees their work.

The Polish conservative government responded to the EC in a letter dated August 20, promising to take action.

However, EU officials said on Tuesday that controversial disciplinary proceedings, seen as political pressure on the courts, have continued until now.

“The recent rulings of the European Court of Justice on the independence of Polish judges in Poland have not been fully implemented,” said Vera Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission.

“For example, the Disciplinary Board continues some of its activities against judges, although all these activities had to stop completely,” he said.

EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders added: “It is important that Poland fully complies with the decisions. That is why the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, is acting today. “

The Community representative said that the EC had not specified the level of the fines requested and that this would be decided by the Court.

At that time, the broader EU case against Polish judicial reform is still pending before the EU Court in Luxembourg.

A source in court told AFP news agency that the process is likely to take another six to 10 months and that the issue of financial sanctions will be part of the final decision.

The increasingly Eurosceptic Polish government has been accused of persecuting supporters of Morawiecki’s Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Furthermore, in July, the European Commission launched another legal case against Warsaw for allowing local authorities to introduce “LGBT-free zones”.

The European Commission is responsible for 750 billion euros. The distribution of the EU recovery fund from the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet authorized Poland. payments of € 34 billion. in case the dispute with Warsaw over the rule of law is not resolved.

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