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Poland gets official warning from EU over constitutional court changes
Source: The Guardian
Poland gets official warning from EU over constitutional court changes
Jennifer Rankin in Brussels and Alex Duval Smithin Warsaw
Wednesday 1 June 2016 12.55 BST
The EU executive has given Poland an official warning that changes to its constitutional court endanger the rule of law, in an unprecedented decision that could lead to sanctions against the country.
Frans Timmermans, the vice-president of the European commission, said he had written to the Polish government warning that recent alterations to the workings of Poland’s highest court posed “a systemic risk to the rule of law”.
The publication of a formal opinion ratchets up pressure on Poland and marks the first time that the EU executive has criticised a member state under its rule-of-law procedure.
The Polish government reacted furiously to the move and accused Brussels of blackmailing Poland in an attempt to force the country to take more Syrian refugees.
Soon after Poland’s ultra-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in October 2015, the Polish parliament passed a law allowing the government to appoint the judges of its choosing to the highest court and not recognise those chosen by its predecessor, the liberal Civic Platform party.
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Jennifer Rankin in Brussels and Alex Duval Smithin Warsaw
Wednesday 1 June 2016 12.55 BST
The EU executive has given Poland an official warning that changes to its constitutional court endanger the rule of law, in an unprecedented decision that could lead to sanctions against the country.
Frans Timmermans, the vice-president of the European commission, said he had written to the Polish government warning that recent alterations to the workings of Poland’s highest court posed “a systemic risk to the rule of law”.
The publication of a formal opinion ratchets up pressure on Poland and marks the first time that the EU executive has criticised a member state under its rule-of-law procedure.
The Polish government reacted furiously to the move and accused Brussels of blackmailing Poland in an attempt to force the country to take more Syrian refugees.
Soon after Poland’s ultra-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in October 2015, the Polish parliament passed a law allowing the government to appoint the judges of its choosing to the highest court and not recognise those chosen by its predecessor, the liberal Civic Platform party.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/01/poland-gets-official-warning-from-eu-over-constitutional-court-changes
