Eurocomission Launches Case Against Poland Over Rule of Law

• 01.14.2016, 15:46
•  Europe,  World

(c) Reuters

The European Union on Wednesday hardened its standoff with Poland's new government, deciding to open a case over new laws affecting the country's constitutional court and media that have been criticized as running counter to the bloc's fundamental principles on the rule of law.

"Today we have decided that the Commission will carry out a preliminary assessment on this matter under the rule of law framework," Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said after the EU's executive arm held a special debate on the issue, The Euroactive reports.

The rule of law investigation could lead to the application of Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, which would see Poland's voting rights within the bloc suspended.

This is seen as unlikely, however, and a review process and recommendations must first be completed by the EU.

Timmermans said that "binding rulings" by Poland's constitutional court were not being respected by the new Eurosceptic government, "which I believe is a serious matter in any rule of law dominated state".

It should be recalled that this unprecedented move is in response to new policies introduced by the governing Law and Justice party upon its election in October. These include measures implemented last week that would give the government more control over state news organizations.

However in Warsaw, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo defended her government's moves, Business Insider writes.

"Poland has the right to take sovereign decisions concerning the course of home affairs or how the media need to be organized. This is a sovereign decision of any state, including Poland," Szydlo said.

In the background of all this situation, there is a tension in Polish-German relations. Many German politicians and experts are in favor of ''punishing'' Polish government for the steps made against EU standards.

However, the official representative of German government, Stephan Zaibert, has announced in response to all the panic that the authorities are not going to carry on any sanctions against Poland.