The European Commission is “very concerned” about the situation regarding the rule of law in Poland and “will not hesitate to take the necessary measures” to remedy the situation, said Christian Wigand, spokesman for the Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, and the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, on Friday 24 January.
The spokesperson was reacting to the adoption of a new law tightening sanctions against judges critical of the reforms carried out by the ruling PiS party by the disciplinary chamber of the lower house of the Polish parliament the night before (see EUROPE 12410/7).
The Commission is of the opinion that now is the time to really “engage in dialogue” with the Polish authorities, the spokesperson added, pointing out that the Vice-President will be in Poland next week (she will be there on Monday for the commemorations related to the liberation of Auschwitz, editor's note).
On Thursday 23 January in Zagreb, Didier Reynders had already said that the Commission would study the final text adopted by MEPs and consider what action to take.
For its part, the EU Court of Justice said on Friday 24 January that it had introduced the request for interim measures decided last week by the College of Commissioners.
The controversial text was finally approved by 234 MEPs against 211 opposition votes and nine abstentions.
The draft law was prepared and voted on urgently by the PiS in response to decisions by the CJEU and the Polish Supreme Court calling into question certain aspects of the controversial judicial reforms that were at the root of the conflict, AFP recalls. It creates new offences against Polish judges.
The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe considered that this text “undermines judicial independence” and recommended that the Polish Parliament did not validate this law. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)