The European Commission (EC) decided on Wednesday to discontinue its Article 7 procedure against Poland, which was initiated in 2017 over the rule of law and may ultimately have led to sanctions and the loss of voting rights.
The Polish government, under Prime Minister Donald Tusk, had made improving relations with the EU and lifting the threat of Article 7 a policy priority since winning the Polish general election in October.
Relations between Warsaw and Brussels soured after Law and Justice, which was in power from 2015–2023, enacted a raft of changes to the Polish judicial system that the EC claimed undermined the rule of law.
The Commission said in a statement that it had concluded that “there is no longer a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union.”
The EU’s executive arms went on to say Warsaw had taken both legislative and non-legislative steps to address its concerns over judicial independence and had recognized the primacy of EU law as well as demonstrating a commitment to implementing rulings by the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.
The EC highlighted the Polish government’s publication in February of an Action Plan regarding judicial reforms and the first clear steps toward its implementation, as well as the fact that Poland has joined the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“The Commission is therefore informing the Council and the European Parliament of this assessment and of the Commission's intention to withdraw its Reasoned Proposal from 2017, thereby closing the Article 7 (1) procedure,” the statement read.
“Today, marks a new chapter for Poland,” EC President Ursula von der Leyen was quoted as saying. “After more than six years, we believe that the Article 7(1) procedure can be closed. I congratulate Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government on this important breakthrough. It is the result of their hard work and determined reform efforts. The ongoing restoration of the rule of law in Poland is great for the Polish people and for our Union as a whole. It is a testament to the resilience of the rule of law and democracy in Europe.”
EC Vice-President in charge of Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, told the European Parliament on Wednesday that “there is movement to address and reform the disciplinary regime [for judges] in Poland” and said the Commission was “open and available for dialog with the Polish authorities in order to resolve existing concerns.”
Relations between Warsaw and Brussels soured after Law and Justice, which was in power from 2015–2023, enacted a raft of changes to the Polish judicial system that the EC claimed undermined the rule of law.
The Commission said in a statement that it had concluded that “there is no longer a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union.”
The EU’s executive arms went on to say Warsaw had taken both legislative and non-legislative steps to address its concerns over judicial independence and had recognized the primacy of EU law as well as demonstrating a commitment to implementing rulings by the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.
The EC highlighted the Polish government’s publication in February of an Action Plan regarding judicial reforms and the first clear steps toward its implementation, as well as the fact that Poland has joined the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“The Commission is therefore informing the Council and the European Parliament of this assessment and of the Commission's intention to withdraw its Reasoned Proposal from 2017, thereby closing the Article 7 (1) procedure,” the statement read.
“Today, marks a new chapter for Poland,” EC President Ursula von der Leyen was quoted as saying. “After more than six years, we believe that the Article 7(1) procedure can be closed. I congratulate Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government on this important breakthrough. It is the result of their hard work and determined reform efforts. The ongoing restoration of the rule of law in Poland is great for the Polish people and for our Union as a whole. It is a testament to the resilience of the rule of law and democracy in Europe.”
EC Vice-President in charge of Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, told the European Parliament on Wednesday that “there is movement to address and reform the disciplinary regime [for judges] in Poland” and said the Commission was “open and available for dialog with the Polish authorities in order to resolve existing concerns.”
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