The Warsaw government welcomed “good news” this Monday after Brussels announced its intention to end legal proceedings against Poland for disrespecting European Union (EU) values, including the rule of law.
“Obviously this is good news for Poland, which strengthens Poland in the European Union and makes us a strong and important player, without this negative shadow remaining over us,” Minister of Development and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz said at a press conference. TVN24.
The European Commission proposed this Monday to end the procedure opened in 2017 against Poland for disrespecting EU values, including the rule of law, recognizing the country’s “hard work and efforts” after six years.
“Today marks a new chapter for Poland. More than six years later, we consider that the procedure provided for in Article 7 [do Tratado da UE, acionado perante ameaças sistémicas nos países da UE ao nível do Estado de direito] may be closed,” said the president of the community executive, Ursula von der Leyen, in a post on the social network X.
Stressing that this is “the result of Poland’s hard work and efforts to carry out certain reforms,” the leader of the European Commission congratulated Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government, which has been in power since December 2023 and followed more than eight years of ultra-conservative rule, for “this important achievement”.
In a statement, Brussels said that once the analysis is completed, it intends to close the rule of law case in Poland in the context of the procedure provided for in Article 7(1) of the EU Treaty, arguing that “there is no longer a clear risk of a serious violation.”
“Poland has taken a number of legislative and non-legislative measures to address problems related to the independence of the judiciary, has recognized the primacy of EU law and has committed itself to complying with all decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Court of Justice of the European Union Human rights related to the rule of law, including the independence of the judiciary.” , – listed the institute.
Another step was Poland’s accession to the European Prosecutor’s Office on February 29, 2024.
Brussels is now proposing this assessment to the Council (at member state level) and the European Parliament in order to close the case, which began at the end of 2017.
In December 2017, the European Commission invoked Article 7 for the first time since its creation in response to the erosion of judicial independence in Poland caused by the actions of the Polish government, then led by the ultra-conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS). this only happened the following year.
In February last year, Poland already presented its action plan to close this procedure at the General Affairs Council.
However, in a note published today, the European Commission assured that the measures contained in the action plan, as well as other measures aimed at promoting the rule of law in Poland, “will continue to be subject to regular monitoring.”
On May 1, Poland celebrated the 20th anniversary of its accession to the EU.
In the EU, the rule of law is governed by the principles of legality, legal certainty, respect for fundamental rights, separation of powers and equality.
A similar procedure, however, remains open in relation to Hungary, since in September 2018 the European Parliament invoked Article 7 against Budapest due to deliberate attacks on democratic institutions and human rights by the nationalist-conservative Fidesz government, the political force of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Hearings continue for Hungary, the country that will take over the EU Council presidency in the second half of 2024.
Article 7 of the EU Treaty allows for the possibility of suspension of Member States’ rights (eg voting rights in the Council) in the event of a serious and persistent breach of Community standards.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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