A total of 23.9 billion euros in grants and a further 11.5 billion euros in low-interest loans were awarded.
(Photo: dpa)
Warsaw In the dispute over Poland’s judicial system, European judges are up in arms about the recent approval of EU subsidies worth billions for Warsaw. Four European associations of judges announced on Sunday that they are asking the European Union (EU) General Court to reverse the recent EU decision in favor of Poland. In the struggle for the independence of their Polish colleagues, the judiciary reform initiated in Warsaw does not go far enough for the judges’ associations. It is not sufficient to offer effective legal protection. According to the associations, it also disregards relevant judgments of the European Court of Justice.
The aid is about 23.9 billion euros in grants and another 11.5 billion euros in low-interest loans. At the beginning of June, the EU economics and finance ministers released the funding after Poland’s parliament voted to abolish the controversial disciplinary chamber for judges. The chamber is to be replaced by a new body. The EU Commission had rated the disciplinary body as a threat to the independence of the judges. In October, the European Court of Justice ordered Poland to pay a fine of one million euros a day because the government in Warsaw initially refused to dissolve the Chamber.
After the aid was approved, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the payments could only begin once the reform of the judicial system had been completed. The judges’ associations have now declared that going before the EU court does not immediately result in the approval being annulled. But such an advance could follow. A spokesman for the Polish government could not immediately be reached for comment.
More: Income of up to 20 billion euros: Greek economy benefits from tourism
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.