Timmermans: we will give Poland one month to solve its problems

When presenting the conclusions of the Commissioners, Frans Timmermans admitted that “some things have changed in Poland, and some things have not”. He expressed his satisfaction with President Duda having vetoed two judiciary bills. However, he pointed out that since the other laws had been signed and are to enter into force “we must set out clearly our concerns”.

The Vice-President of the European Commission stressed that while announcing his veto against the two laws, President Duda still had signed the Law on the Common Courts Organisation, which justified — he argued — the launching of an infringement procedure against Poland as soon as it was published.

“Independence of the judiciary is also a key component of the rule of law”

“The Commission recommends the Polish authorities to solve all the problems identified within one month. Today’s third Recommendation builds on the two previous Recommendations from 2016 which focused on the systemic threat to the rule of law from measures that have undermined the independence and legitimacy of the Constitutional Tribunal”, the Vice-President explained. “Given that independence of the judiciary is also a key component of the rule of law, the current reforms (in Poland – editor’s note) increase significantly the systemic threat to rule of law identified in the previous Recommendations”, he stressed.

Timmermans warned that if — in line with the new legal framework — the Polish Supreme Court judges would be dismissed or forced to retire, “the Commission is ready to immediately trigger the Article 7(1) procedure”. This article concerns the ‘determination that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of the common values of the Union’.

Still, the Vice-President underlined that the Commission’s hand was still extended to the Polish authorities, in the hope of a constructive dialogue.