Poland’s new government plans to reverse some of its predecessors’ reforms. The goal: an end to the ongoing EU criminal proceedings against Poland. Some hope that the former problem child will now become a model student.
Poland wants to bring an end to ongoing EU criminal proceedings under its new, pro-European government. Poland’s Justice Minister Adam Bodnar presented an “action plan” to the European Ministers meeting in Brussels. Specifically, it concerns a procedure initiated at the end of 2017, with which Poland was threatened with a withdrawal of voting rights in the EU Council of Ministers due to violations of the rule of law. Brussels and Berlin welcomed the initiative from Warsaw.
Bodnar said that with the election of Prime Minister Donald Tusk in October, Poles had chosen the independence of the judiciary. Poland is now “on the right track”.
EU Commission speaks of “real change”
After the presentation, the EU Commission responsible for examining reforms was optimistic that the plan could restore the independence of the judiciary in Poland. At the same time, Vice President Vera Jourova emphasized that there is still a lot of work ahead of Poland. The list of deficits is comprehensive.
EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders certified that Poland had undergone “real change” under Tusk. The new government has already joined the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which has been investigating fraud, corruption and other violations of the Community budget since 2017, the Belgian said. Poland has also presented a plan to make the high judges independent again.
Tusk wants blocked funds released
The German Minister of State for Europe Anna Lührmann (Greens) welcomed the initiative: “Poland is developing from a problem child when it comes to the rule of law to a champion for democracy, for human rights and for the rule of law,” she said in Brussels.
Tusk wants to defuse the reforms with his coalition government. This should also lead to the release of currently blocked EU funds worth billions.
From the EU’s perspective, the previous government under the right-wing nationalist PiS party had massively restricted the rule of law. Among other things, a ruling by the Polish Constitutional Court was criticized, according to which parts of EU law are not compatible with Poland’s constitution. The previous PiS government had also implemented highly controversial judicial reforms, which, from the perspective of the European Court of Justice, jeopardized the independence of the judges there.
Matthias Reiche, ARD Brussels, tagesschau, February 20, 2024 4:27 p.m