Polish judges face disciplinary charges for asking the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for opinion, which is the fundamental right of every judge in the EU. It's unacceptable for any government to interfere with this right, said Frans Timmermans. The Vice President of the European Commission visited Warsaw on Sunday, where he met, among others, with the leader of Wiosna (Spring) party, Robert Biedroń.
Polscy sędziowie mają sprawy dyscyplinarne za zadawanie pytań europejskiemu Trybunałowi Sprawiedliwości, co jest fundamentalnym prawem każdego sędziego w Unii Europejskiej. To nie do pomyślenia, żeby władze jakiegoś kraju mieszały się w to prawo - stwierdził Frans Timmermans. Wiceszef Komisji Europejskiej przebywa w niedzielę w Warszawie, gdzie spotkał się między innymi z liderem Wiosny Robertem Biedroniem. (http://www.tvn24.pl)
The Vice President of the European Commission, candidate of the socialists for the head of the next Commission, Frans Timmermans visited Warsaw on Sunday. In the afternoon, he met with the Wiosna party leader, Robert Biedroń. In the evening, Timmermans spoke with the leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Włodzimierz Czarzasty.
During a joint conference with Biedroń, Timmermans commented, among other things, on the situation in the Polish judicial system and another procedure against Poland, launched by the European Commission.
"I've been working on this case for over three years now and all evidence clearly shows that Polish disciplinary procedures regarding judges have freezing effects and are meant to intimidate," said Timmermans. In his opinion, "this goes way beyond the standard procedures of a normal judicial system".
"Disciplinary proceedings are being opened against judges who, for instance, ask legal questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union. When this is the fundamental right of every judge, not only Polish, but German or Dutch as well," he added.
He also said when judges have doubts regarding application of a law, they refer directly to the CJEU. "It's unacceptable for any government to interfere with the right of judges to ask legal questions. Even when it's a stupid question, it's the Tribunal in Luxembourg who decides what the answer will be. Not any government or minister. This is one of the reason for which the Commission took action," said Timmermans.
As deputy chief of the EU Commission emphasised, that there must be a system that forces judges to uphold the highest standards. He added however that "a disciplinary system cannot be used to cause the freezing effect or to intimitade judges, just as judges cannot face discplinary proceedings for having a different view or opinion than the government".
"Judicial independence also means that judges have the right to their own opinions," Timmermans said.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24, PAP