European Commission's concerns regarding the rule of law in Poland are growing, said the Vice President of the EC, Frans Timmermans at a press conference after Poland's EU treaty Article 7 procedure hearing. He added that in regard to the issue of the Supreme Court, the commission will take all available measures.
Timmermans did not rule out that the case may be taken to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
"I don't have a lot of good news. In the period between the first and the second hearings, the EC's concerns have grown. The situation in Poland is not improving," said Timmermans.
He added he hopes that the Polish government will be able to reassure as soon as possible, that Poland will abide by all the CJEU's rulings. "I didn't hear any declaration that Poland would abide by rulings concerning this case," he emphasised. He added that he would like to receive such declaration from Polish authorities.
Asked about the Supreme Court law, against which the EC had launched an infringement procedure, Timmermans said that the commission will take all available measures. He did not rule out a possibility of taking the case to CJEU. "Clearly, it is an urgent case," he said. Member of the Austrian presidency, European affairs minister Gernot Bluemel informed that during the Tuesday's session, no decision was taken regarding further steps against Poland within the Article 7 procedure. Any decisions, as he explained, will be taken later on, before the next meeting of the European affairs ministers.
"I'm not under the impression that there is any majority in the General Affairs Council, that would be able to adopt any negative approach against Poland. Maybe there is no majority at all, maybe the General Affairs Council is still collecting opinions and hasn't arrived at any conclusions yet. However, most certainly, there is no majority that would be enough critical of Poland to take any stands," said Poland's European affairs minister, Konrad Szymański, after the hearing.
Asked about respecting the ruling of the CJEU, Szymański reassured that Poland respects the EU law. This issue was brought up at the hearing because Polish authorities had earlier suggested in media comments that they wouldn't respect CJEU's ruling that would uphold suspending the Supreme Court law provisions.
"Facts speak louder than words. Poland is a country which in recent years, through its government, significantly improved the implementation of the EU law to the national law. I believe that it is a very important marker. It clearly demonstrates our attitude towards the binding EU regulations," said Polish Deputy Foreign Minister.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, PAP