Parliament agrees: Poland wants to dissolve disciplinary body

Because of the judicial reform, Poland is losing billions in EU funds. The main focus of the dispute with Brussels is the Disciplinary Chamber at the Supreme Court. Poland’s parliament has now decided to dissolve the body.

Poland’s parliament has given in to the dispute with the European Union. MEPs decided to abolish the Disciplinary Chamber at the Supreme Court. According to the draft that has been passed, this is to be replaced by a new body.

After approval by the Sejm, the draft law introduced by Polish President Andrzej Duda now has to be passed by the Senate. The EU Commission had made the dissolution a prerequisite for the release of European corona aid of around 35 billion euros. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected in Warsaw next week.

“We don’t need a conflict with the European Commission, because we are in a difficult international situation right now,” said Duda in early February. A few weeks later, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine followed. The Polish government is trying all the harder to avoid all too violent disputes with the EU.

200 million euros fine

The chamber, which could punish and dismiss judges, is at the center of the conflict over the judicial reforms of the national-conservative Polish government. The members of the panel were appointed by the State Judicial Council, which is politically controlled. Brussels accused Warsaw of undermining the independence of the judiciary with the chamber – and thus violating a fundamental value of the European Union.

Since the government in Warsaw initially refused to dissolve the body, the European Court of Justice ordered Poland to pay a fine of one million euros per day. The penalty has now totaled 200 million euros.

Opposition considers law inadequate

The Polish government said last week that it hoped that the EU aid funds would be released soon after the disciplinary chamber was dissolved.

From the point of view of the Polish opposition, the concessions made by the governing PiS party do not go far enough. “No, that doesn’t solve the problem for good. Poland needs this money and it’s a scandal that we haven’t received the money yet because of the irresponsible policies of the PiS government,” says Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, one of the leading representatives of the PiS largest opposition party Civic Platform.

“The Commission must be very tough and put pressure on the PiS government so that it fulfills the conditions and ensures the rule of law in Poland,” said opposition politician Trzaskowski on the private broadcaster TVN. Instead of the disciplinary chamber, a “chamber for professional responsibility” is to be created. The opposition fears that the chamber will only be renamed.

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki seems to be sure of himself: “Next Thursday, June 2, the President of the European Commission will come here to sign that we are meeting the milestones for the EU’s aid.”