Rule of law dispute: Morawiecki accuses EU of “blackmail”

Status: 10/19/2021 11:52 a.m.

Poland’s Prime Minister Morawiecki defended the controversial Polish constitutional court ruling before the EU Parliament and spoke of “blackmail”. Commission chief von der Leyen had previously threatened severe sanctions.

In the dispute over the rule of law between Warsaw and Brussels, the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused the EU of “blackmail”. “I do not agree that politicians want to blackmail Poland and threaten Poland,” said the Prime Minister before the EU Parliament in Strasbourg.

“I would like to reject the language of threats and blackmail,” Morawiecki continued. This has become a method for some Member States.

At the same time, he defended the judgment of the Polish Constitutional Court, which questions the primacy of EU law. “The EU’s competencies have their limits, we can no longer remain silent when they are exceeded,” said Morawiecki.

Poland could lose EU voting rights

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had previously threatened Poland with severe sanctions for questioning EU law. “We cannot and we will not allow our common values ​​to be jeopardized,” she said in the European Parliament. The Commission will act.

As specific options, von der Leyen named another infringement procedure, the use of a new procedure to cut EU funds and a renewed application of the so-called Article 7 procedure. The latter could even lead to the withdrawal of Polish voting rights in EU decisions.

The background to the threats from der Leyens is a ruling by the Polish Constitutional Court, according to which parts of EU law are incompatible with Poland’s constitution. The EU Commission regards this decision as highly problematic because it could give the Polish government an excuse to ignore the unpleasant judgments of the ECJ.

“Polexit” not an issue

“The rule of law is the glue that holds our Union together,” said von der Leyen. The judgment endangers the unity of the EU and undermines the protection of judicial independence, which is why she is deeply concerned. “It is a direct challenge to the unity of the European legal order. Only a common legal order enables equal rights, legal security, mutual trust between the member states and the resulting common policy.”

Morawiecki rejected fears that Poland might leave the EU in a dispute. “We shouldn’t spread any more lies about Poland leaving the EU,” he said, adding that his country would not be intimidated and expected a constructive dialogue.

Von der Leyen also emphasized the will to find an amicable solution. “We want a strong Poland in a united Europe,” said the Commission President.

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