On Wednesday 20 December, the College of Commissioners of the European Commission will discuss recent developments in the rule of law in Poland, the Commission announced on Monday 11 December.
This discussion will be held by request of the President of the institution, spokesperson Margaritis Schinas announced.
The College, which took note of the opinions returned on Friday 8 December by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (see EUROPE 11922), will decide on the next steps, the spokesperson added.
Despite warnings issued by the European Commission, the Polish parliament late last week voted through two laws which the country had been asked by the Council of Europe and the European Commission to drop, on the grounds that they breach the independence of the judiciary.
The law on the Supreme Court will reduce the retirement age of its members from 70 to 65. The other law, concerning the National Court Register (KRS), stipulates that the 15 members of this institution, which stands guarantor to the independence of the judiciary, will in future be elected by the lower chamber of the national parliament rather than by their peers.
The Commission expresses concern at a subordinate link between judicial powers and political powers (see EUROPE 11898). The European Parliament recently decided to prepare a so-called article 7 procedure against Poland (see EUROPE 11905), as it did for Hungary in May this year. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)