Jourova in Warsaw: I'm happy Poland's new govt wants to restore rule of law

Jourova went to Warsaw on Wednesday to meet officials after a new pro-European government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk took power after the Oct. 15 election from the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

The former PiS government had for years been stuck in a row with Brussels over its court reforms and the rule of law, resulting in billions of European Union's funds for Poland being frozen. The new government vowed to regain access to the money.

Jourova said she welcomed the new cabinet's will to fix rule of law issues, but "it's too early to assess whether they will be sufficient to meet the milestones".

Under the milestones, Poland needs to ensure judicial independence, reinstate unlawfully dismissed judges and reform its disciplinary system.

"We are truly committed to completing milestones as quickly as possible," Justice Minister Adam Bodnar said during a joint press conference with Jourova.

Last week, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders told Reuters Poland's new government needed "some time" to improve the independence of the judiciary so the European Union could disburse more funds.

"There is the commitment. The message is very important about the rule of law," he told Reuters in an interview. "But that is not enough. We need to see the reforms. That will take some time."

Reynders named ending proceedings against judges by a contested disciplinary chamber as an example of a fix that did not require passing a new law, something Tusk backers worry the country's president - an ally of the previous government - might veto.

Poland's previous government carried out a deep overhaul of the judiciary during its eight years in power.

The EU and international watchdogs criticised Warsaw for putting courts and judges under political influence and hence damaging democratic checks and balances.