Logo Polskiego Radia

Polish FM to talk rule of law with EU’s Timmermans in Brussels

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 03.05.2018 08:30
Poland’s foreign minister was on Thursday expected to head to Brussels for talks at the European Commission on the rule of law in his country, according to public broadcaster Polish Radio.
Jacek CzaputowiczJacek CzaputowiczPolish foreign ministry MSZ (CC BY-NC 2.0)

While in the Belgian capital, Jacek Czaputowicz was expected to meet Frans Timmermans, deputy head of the European Commission, to discuss disputed legal changes carried out by Poland's conservative government, Polish Radio has reported, citing unofficial sources.

Czaputowicz’s visit was part of a series of talks between Polish and EU officials following sweeping changes to courts in Poland.

The rule-of-law row

The European Commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation European Union, in December took the unprecedented step of triggering Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Poland, stepping up pressure on Warsaw over controversial changes to the justice system by the country’s ruling conservatives.

The move meant that the EU’s executive wanted the bloc’s member states to declare that the rule of law in Poland was under threat. That could potentially pave the way for sanctions being imposed on Poland.

But the Polish government has since moved to modify the disputed legal changes that set it on a collision course with Brussels.

Czaputowicz in late March said that Poland wanted Brussels to withdraw its Article 7 procedure against Warsaw.

Timmermans in early April visited Warsaw to hold talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki as well as Czaputowicz and presidential chief of staff Krzysztof Szczerski. He also met the heads of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal and Supreme Court.

Morawiecki and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker talked about the rule of law in Poland during a telephone conversation last week, according to the PAP news agency.

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a new long-term budget for the EU. The plan introduces a mechanism that could financially penalise countries that are judged to have breached EU principles on the rule of law.

(gs/pk)

Source: Polish Radio, IAR, PAP

Print
Copyright © Polskie Radio S.A About Us Contact Us