European Commission representatives will on Friday announce that Brussels has unblocked COVID-19 recovery funds for Poland, its prime minister said on Thursday (Feb.22). Later that day, Polish lawmakers reject bid to oust Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, who is at the forefront of the new government's task force responsible for rolling back judicial reforms carried out by the previous administration.
"Tomorrow we will hear from European Union representatives that Poland has finally had National Recovery Plan funds unblocked," Donald Tusk told parliament.
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen plans to visit Warsaw on Friday along with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar on Tuesday presented an action plan "to restore the rule of law" after eight years of rule by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party that led to the freezing of billions of euros in EU funds.
Bodnar's plan includes several bills rolling back PiS reforms, including changes to the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), which appoints judges, or the Constitutional Tribunal, which decides on the constitutionality of laws.
"This was very impressive for the Commission to listen to so many positive comments around the table... the reactions are very positive," Didier Reynders told reporters after hearing Bodnar's plan.
EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said that Bodnar's plan was the first step to end the Article 7 procedure against Poland, but added there was still plenty of work ahead. She also called the action plan "realistic".
"I think that the very positive reaction from the member states is also associated with a certain level of trust that we will do it in a way that is predictable and consistent with the rule of law," Bodnar said
In a sign that the government is committed to implementing the changes soon, Tusk's cabinet approved on Tuesday a bill on the KRS proposed by Bodnar, which will now go to parliament.
The bill assumes members of the Council would be chosen by judges, not politicians as they were under changes introduced under PiS. The European Court of Human Rights and Court of Justice of the EU had pointed to irregularities in the procedure.
The lower chamber of the Polish parliament, the Sejm, on Thursday rejected a no-confidence motion against Adam Bodnar, submitted back in January by PiS lawmakers. The largest opposition party accuses the minister of creating chaos in the Polish judiciary and taking unconstitutional measures to take over control of the prosecution service.
In the vote, 234 MPs voted against ousting Bodnar from office, while 191 supported the bid. There were no abstentions.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, PAP
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