The General Affairs Council will convene in Luxembourg on the 9th of April to further discuss the issue of rule of law in Poland, Poland's state-run news agency PAP learned on Wednesday from sources in the EU.
The situation in Poland and Hungary, in relation to the Article 7 procedure of the EU Treaty, is on agenda which was initially agreed upon by the ambassadors of member-states in Brussels. "It's practically certain that it will stay on the agenda," PAP learned from a source that insisted to remain anonymous.
Two weeks ago, Denmark requested that the issue should be discussed and was supported by more or less half other EU states. According to the source, Poland opposed the idea claiming that there were no new aspects regarding the issue and therefore it shouldn't be discussed before May's election to the European Parliament.
Denmark's representative, according to the source, was said to have replied that precisely because Poland hadn't taken any new steps to improve the situation, it's necessary to look into the issue.
The question of rule of law in Poland wasn't discussed on Wednesday's meeting of the ambassadors. It's possible that they will pick up the subject next week. European affairs ministers didn't discuss the issue in March at all, however. However, it was rather unusual turn of events because since the lauching of Article 7 procedure against Poland, the General Affairs Council discussed the issue at least once a month.
In February, the European ministers discussed the situation in Poland for the 11th time in a row. It wasn't a hearing but rather a current situation briefing, which did not stop 12 member-states to take the floor, as well as Poland's representative.
According to unofficial information, the representatives of member-states who spoke during the meeting were in favour of keeping the Article 7 procedure ongoing.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Shutterstock