The head of the Polish government, Mateusz Morawiecki, confronted the MEPs meeting in Strasbourg on Tuesday, after the thunderclap caused by the decision of the Polish Constitutional Court challenging the primacy of European law.
Posted
Update
Reading time : 1 min.
A face-to-face meeting awaited at the top of Europe. The head of the Polish nationalist conservative government, Mateusz Morawiecki, spoke on Tuesday, October 19, at his request, to MEPs meeting in Strasbourg. In particular, he was summoned to explain himself after the recent thunderclap caused by the decision of the Polish Constitutional Court challenging the primacy of European law.
>> Why does Poland’s questioning of European law make the EU tremble?
Before the European Parliament, theth Polish Prime Minister, denounced a “blackmail” of the EU towards his country on the primacy of European law, while the Warsaw recovery plan is frozen by Brussels.
The European Commission will act to defend the “common values” of the EU in Poland, for her part warned its president Ursula von der Leyen, without making any announcement against Warsaw. “We will not allow our common values to be endangered. The Commission will act”, she told the European Parliament.
The Polish leader, in open conflict with Brussels for several years over the controversial judicial reforms implemented by the right-wing populist party, Law and Justice (PiS), was expected to stand firm in the hemicycle. Many MEPs are demanding that the Commission initiate proceedings against Warsaw that could lead to the suspension of payments of European funds.
The European executive, as guardian of the treaties, is preparing its response to the historic judgment handed down on October 7 by the Polish Constitutional Court. Requested by the Prime Minister, this court close to the ruling party ruled certain articles of the EU treaties “incompatible” with the national constitution.
This questioning of the primacy of European law has been condemned in Brussels, in the European Parliament and by member states such as France and Germany. It raised fears of “Polexit” and prompted tens of thousands of Poles to show their attachment to the EU. Hungary, also in the crosshairs of Brussels for attacks on the rule of law, expressed its support in Warsaw. Poland currently sees – like Hungary – its stimulus plan blocked by the Commission for these questions of judicial independence and an upcoming approval seems unlikely.