Timmermans 'optimistic' that rule of law situation in Poland can be resolved

Speaking in Ljubljana, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said he hoped dialogue would solve the “systemic threat to the rule of law” but, if not, the European Union has tools and will use them.

He said Poland was introducing laws that would limit the independence of the courts and that the European Commission must act to stop the government in Warsaw from making that mistake.

Timmermans also mentioned triggering article seven, which would in theory allow for sanctions against Poland.

Warsaw is locked in an ongoing row with Brussels over rule-of-law concerns which started after the ruling conservatives overhauled Poland's constitutional court when they took power in late 2015.

Concerns were exacerbated in July when parliament passed a number of judicial reform bills, which would have given elected officials significant powers to appoint and dismiss judges.

Two of those bills were vetoed by Poland's president.

The government said that sweeping changes are needed to reform an inefficient and sometimes corrupt judicial system, accusing judges of being an elite, self-serving clique often out of touch with the problems of ordinary citizens.

But critics in Poland and abroad said the reforms undermined democracy. (vb/pk)

Source: PAP