Two separate letters, signed by MEPs across the political spectrum and former Polish leaders, demand that the Commission take swift action to halt a controversial judiciary reform in Poland, already closely watched by Brussels for fears that it threatens the basic democratic rules.
Polish authorities need to address key concerns of the Commission over the independence of the country's judiciary by the end of the month, Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans told the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg on Wednesday (13 June).
The EU warned Poland it could move closer next month to unprecedented sanctions, unless Warsaw makes "a lot more progress" in the row over its controversial court reforms.
Poland on Monday (7 May) played down possible EU funding cuts over its controversial judicial reforms – in addition to sanctions it already faces – saying it sees room for negotiation over financial allocations.
The European Union will deploy a new financial weapon next week to try to rein in what Brussels sees as illiberal nationalism rising in the east of the bloc and threatening its democratic foundations.
The European Values Instrument can provide a much-needed boost to the weakened resilience of European democracies. However, the details of its structure will determine whether this opportunity will be grasped, write Jan Jakub Chromiec and Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
Commission's Vice chief Frans Timmermans urges Poland to formulate its full proposal to solve the dispute over the rule of law by mid-May as previous concessions are considered as insufficient. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Poland's lower house of parliament on Thursday (12 April) approved changes to judiciary reforms in a bid to soothe European Union concerns that the rule of law in Poland would be weakened.
MEPs are demanding the launch of an infringement procedure against Hungary for breaching 'core EU values', just days after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s sweeping election success.
Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans on Monday (9 April) urged Poland to step up efforts at finding a solution to a high-pitched dispute over its controversial judicial reforms, denounced by Brussels as violating the rule of law.
Protecting the rule of law in Europe must involve a more gradual processes than the radical measures tools currently available, according to a study by the Jacques Delors institute.EURACTIV.fr reports
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans will visit Warsaw on April 9, the Polish government said on Thursday, amid conflict over Poland's controversial court reforms.
Members of Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party have proposed amendments to the controversial laws governing the Polish judicial system that put Warsaw in the crosshairs of the European Commission. It is still unclear if these changes will soothe the dispute or if they are just empty gestures. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Thursday (8 March) handed Brussels a detailed defence of Warsaw's controversial judicial reforms and warned that any EU disciplinary action could deepen a "populist" backlash.
Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party yesterday (6 March) moved closer towards controlling the country’s justice system by having its own candidates elected to a body overseeing judicial impartiality.
Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans voiced satisfaction that Poland has started a dialogue with Brussels. However, such a dialogue only makes sense when it brings results, he emphasised. Meanwhile, the Polish side is preparing a White Paper to defend its position. EURACTIV Poland reports.
The EU is a community of shared values, the minister of state for Europe in the German Foreign Office, Michael Roth (SPD), emphasised in an interview with EURACTIV’s media partner “Der Tagesspiegel“, referring to the anti-Soros campaign in Hungary and...
Western EU states told Poland on Tuesday (27 February) that time was running out for it to address concerns in a dispute over democratic freedoms, mainly related to the rule of law and the judiciary reforms in the biggest eastern EU member country.
Polish citizens are happy, the economy is booming and the support for the conservative government is at an all-time high. That was the message two Polish ministers delivered to the Brussels press corps on Monday (19 February).
Maria João Rodrigues, who is emerging as the most prominent figurehead in the European Parliament's S&D group, made it plain on Thursday (1 February) that her political group is quite critical of its Romanian affiliate member, the ruling social-democrat PSD.
Polish authorities claim that the launch of Article 7 against their country as unjustifiable. Citizens are divided on the issue and nearly half of them believe the Commission is just acting because it does not like the current authorities in Warsaw. EURACTIV Poland reports.
The European Parliament's justice committee voted on Monday (29 January) in favour of launching the "nuclear option" against Poland. PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński insisted that Poland might only face "some impediments, inconveniences." EURACTIV Poland reports.
Poland's new foreign minister, Jacek Czaputowicz, and European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans met for the first time in Brussels, where they spoke about the rule of law in Poland and the issue of refugees. EURACTIV Poland reports.
On Wednesday (17 January), Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz met with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin. The ministers spoke about the dispute over the rule of law in Poland, the future of the EU and a possible revival of the Weimar Triangle. EURACTIV Poland reports.
