A large majority of MEPs reiterated their concern, on Tuesday 11 February, about the controversial reform of the Polish judicial system and, more broadly, about the state of the Rule of law in Poland (see EUROPE 12420/2).
Speeches by several Members of Parliament during a debate about ‘The continuing threat to the rule of law in Poland’ indicated a certain urgency for action.
“We see this debate as a last resort”, said Maltese MEP Metsola Roberta on behalf of the EPP, calling on the Polish government to choose dialogue rather than confrontation.
The Vice-President of the Committee on Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, reported that the situation is “extremely serious”, just as “the recent decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to open an investigation procedure into the functioning of Polish institutions and the rule of law" (see EUROPE 12413/18).
Most groups called on the EU to act quickly. “Not to punish Poland or the Polish government, but to protect the civil and democratic rights of European citizens and Poles in this case”, stressed Michal Šimečka (Renew Europe, Slovakia).
The Chair of Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar (S&D, Spain), called on Ms Jourová to implement the Commission’s mandate to establish a permanent framework for ‘Fundamental Rights, Democracy, Rule of Law’.
The Commissioner, for her part, confirmed that the use of “the Article 7 procedure will continue as long as there are systemic problems with the rule of law”. While assuming its responsibilities as guardian of the Treaties, “the Commission is committed to conducting a fair and open dialogue to resolve these problems”, Ms Jourová said.
Similarly, Nikolina Brnjac, representing the EU Council, confirmed that the Croatian Presidency is ready to discuss this issue again in the ‘General Affairs’ Council and said she hoped “that the continuation of the dialogue between the Commission and Poland would bear fruit”.
Necessary reform. Polish MEP and former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, speaking on behalf of the ECR group, reacted to both announcements. “I am afraid that only the Polish government is ready for dialogue. We have been trying to explain our reforms for three years”, she said.
In her view, Poland has already taken all possible and conceivable measures to strengthen the rule of law. It also believes that the judiciary in Poland is “in need” of reform. “In accordance with the Constitution, within the framework of the treaties, and according to the demands of Polish citizens, we have started this reform of the judiciary, which we will continue to pursue”, she promised. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)