EU Commission: Poland's plan to restore rule of law well received

Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar 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.

"I will do everything in my power to convince (the EU) that we are on the right path to restore the rule of law," Bodnar told reporters before a meeting of the General Affairs Council, where he outlined his plans to exit the Article 7 procedure.

Article 7 of the EU treaties includes a procedure under which rights of member states - including the right to vote on EU decisions - can be suspended because they have breached core values of the bloc.

European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, speaking earlier to reporters alongside Bodnar, said: "I am convinced that the restoration of the rule of law in Poland will soon become a fact."

Bodnar said his action 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.

"This is a very important day, not only for Poland, but also for myself, because after six years of discussions under Article 7, today we will see the important step forward from the side of Polish government," Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova said before the meeting.

After the meeting, 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".

After presenting the plan in Brussels, Bodnar said: "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."

The PiS cabinet carried out a deep overhaul of the judiciary, which the European Union and international watchdogs said had brought the courts and judges under political influence and damaged democratic checks and balances.

As a result, the European Commission held back billions in funds earmarked for Poland due to concerns over the judiciary. New pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to restore judicial independence and get the funds released.

But Tusk faces resistance from PiS supporters and allies, who include President Andrzej Duda and some high-profile judges.

"It is up to the government to adopt bills and negotiate them. We will try to convince Mr. President (Andrzej Duda) that those bills should be signed," the Polish justice minister said.

Critics say that Poland's constitutional court has been politicised under PiS. At least three of its judges are deemed to have been appointed illegally.

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.

"On the day of announcing the results of the new election to the KRS, those judges in the Council who were elected in an unconstitutional manner by the (parliament), on the basis of provisions adopted in December 2017, will cease to function in the Council," the government said.