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EU gives Poland three months to address "systemic threat" to rule of law

Xinhua, July 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) decided on Wednesday to give Poland three months to address "systemic threat" to the rule of law "as a matter of urgency".

"Despite the dialogue pursued with the Polish authorities since the beginning of the year, the Commission considers the main issues which threaten the rule of law in Poland have not been resolved. We are therefore now making concrete recommendations to the Polish authorities on how to address the concerns so that the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland can carry out its mandate to deliver effective constitutional review," said European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans in Brussels.

The European Commission on Wednesday issued a recommendation to Warsaw, setting out EU's concerns and recommending how these can be addressed.

"The fact that the Constitutional Tribunal is prevented from fully ensuring an effective constitutional review adversely affects its integrity, stability and proper functioning, which is one of the essential safeguards of the rule of law in Poland," The EU's executive said in a statement.

The Commission earlier this year opened an investigation into whether the ruling party in Poland had undermined the rule of law.

After intensive dialogue between the EU and the Polish authorities, the Polish Parliament adopted on Friday a new Law on the Constitutional Tribunal to address the concerns but the opposition criticized the new move had not gone far enough.

A spokesman for the Commission said on Monday Poland's changes to the constitutional court law raised new concerns and might trigger a formal reaction by the EU executive.

The EU investigation could ultimately lead to the suspension of Poland's voting rights within the EU. Endit