The European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, began a two-day visit to Poland on Thursday 18 November to discuss the second annual report on the rule of law, published on 20 July (see EUROPE 12766/2), in which the Commission expressed its concerns about the situation of justice in Poland.
The Commissioner had already met with the Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Ziobro, on Thursday morning. Ziobro is known for his tough stance concerning the Commission. The Polish minister said on Twitter that this discussion “aiming to find out our position on the work on justice reform” was “an opportunity to exchange views and point out differences of opinion on these issues”.
The Commissioner will also meet with members of civil society, the Polish Ombudsman and parliamentarians. The visit takes place against the background of an ongoing conflict with Poland on the rule of law, marked recently by a Polish judgment questioning the primacy of EU law, and by a record fine imposed by the Court of Justice of the European Union on the disciplinary chamber of the Supreme Court (see EUROPE 12821/1). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)