According to a court ruling, Poland is threatened with sanctions by von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen

In the debate about the judgment of the Polish Constitutional Court, the EU Commission President announced consequences for the country.

(Photo: dpa)

Strasbourg In the dispute over the rule of law in Poland, the EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen wants to block corona aid worth billions until the country has withdrawn certain judicial reforms.

The independence of the judiciary must be restored, said von der Leyen on Tuesday during a debate with the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. “This includes the dismantling of the disciplinary chamber, the dismantling of the disciplinary regime, the reinstatement of the unlawfully dismissed judges. That is the basic requirement. “Morawiecki announced this, said von der Leyen, and demanded:” Do it. “

Poland submitted its corona development plan in May. In order to receive money from the so-called development and resilience facility (RRF) of the EU, EU states have to submit a plan with investment and reform projects, which is actually assessed by the commission within two months. However, the approval of the plan by Poland has been postponed. According to current calculations, the state is to receive a total of 23.9 billion euros in grants and also loans.

In the dispute with Poland, von der Leyen was resolute after more than four hours of debate in parliament. “We will defend the rule of law and the treaties of the European Union, by all means.”

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However, the EU Commission will adhere to clear process steps. “Yes, democracy and the rule of law are slower than autocracies because they listen to everyone before a judgment is passed or a solution is found. But that is exactly what distinguishes us from the autocrats and dictators of this world. “

With a view to the latest ruling by the Polish constitutional court, the CDU politician said: “It is a one-off event that a constitutional court of a member state questions articles of the European treaty. That hits right in the marrow of the rule of law. That has never happened before. ”The Constitutional Court put the“ ax to the European treaties ”.

EU Parliament debates with Poland’s Prime Minister

On this day in Strasbourg, the EU Parliament will debate with the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. This defended the judgment of the Polish Constitutional Court before the parliament. “The EU’s competencies have their limits, we can no longer remain silent when they are exceeded,” said Morawiecki. The EU member states must have instruments to react to this development. He quoted from judgments of the Supreme Court in the Netherlands, the French Constitutional Council and the Federal Constitutional Court to support his position.

As specific options, von der Leyen named another infringement procedure, the use of a new procedure to cut EU funds and a renewed application of the so-called Article 7 procedure. The latter could even lead to the withdrawal of Polish voting rights in EU decisions.

The background to the threats from der Leyens is a ruling by the Polish Constitutional Court, according to which parts of EU law are incompatible with Poland’s constitution. The EU Commission regards this decision as highly problematic because it could give the Polish government an excuse to ignore the unpleasant judgments of the European Court of Justice.

The judgment calls into question the foundations of the European Union, criticized von der Leyen in parliament on Tuesday. “It is an immediate challenge to the unity of the European legal order. Only a common legal system enables equal rights, legal security, mutual trust between the member states and the resulting common policy. “

Von der Leyen receives approval from the largest group in the EU Parliament. The group leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, calls for consequences for Poland. “The European Union has the ability to stop funds if the independence of the judiciary is not guaranteed. And that’s what we expect from the Commission, ”said the CSU politician on Tuesday in the ZDF morning magazine.

It is also clear that the heads of state and government have to sit down at a table and speak plain language, also to Poland. The European Parliament will debate Poland’s controversial judicial reform on Tuesday.

More: The Federal Constitutional Court has paved the way for the Polish EU judgment

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