EU Commission ends rule of law proceedings against Poland after six years News
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EU Commission ends rule of law proceedings against Poland after six years

The European Union Commission issued a statement Monday announcing they will end six years of rule of law proceedings brought against Poland. President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, in what she called a culmination of Poland’s diligent work and unwavering commitment to reform.

The Commission initiated proceedings under Article 7 of the European Union Treaty against Poland in 2017, which provides mechanisms to address violations of EU values by member states. The Article 7 procedure involves several stages, including an acknowledgment of the breaches within a state, recognition of the serious nature of the breach from all other governments and, finally, a vote on sanctions. The procedure was initiated against Poland in 2017,when it was under the Law and Justice (PiS) government. The PiS government had brought in a number of reforms, including restructuring of the courts, ending the mandate of sitting judges prematurely and favouring appointees that were friendly to the ruling party. This led to allegations that the PiS were acting in an unlawful manner, and the EU Commission argued that the moves compromised the separation of powers and entailed serious hindrances to the application of EU law.

Since his election in 2023, Tusk has promised to restore legal order and worked to improve relations with Brussels, including the creation of an “action plan” of nine proposed laws to reinstate judicial independence, as well as commitments to comply with rulings from the European Court of Justice. By February, the EU Commission had unblocked €137 billion that had previously been denied to Poland.

The Polish government welcomed the announcement, with Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar stating on X that “Poland is [consequently] bringing back rule of law. We are determined and devoted to our common European [values].”

President Von der Leyen said:

Today, marks a new chapter for Poland … I congratulate Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government on this important breakthrough. It is the result of their hard work and determined reform efforts. The ongoing restoration of the rule of law in Poland is great for the Polish people and for our Union as a whole. It is a testament to the resilience of the rule of law and democracy in Europe.

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