Page 48 - TURKRptJun22

48 I Central Europe bne June 2022
Poland's Ministry of Justice, led by United Poland chief Zbigniew Ziobro, says the deal is a mistake.
Poland and European Commission strike rule of law deal to unlock billions from pandemic recovery fund
Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw
Poland has reached an agreement with the European Commission on revoking some elements of its controversial judiciary reform so as to unlock payouts from the EU’s pandemic recovery fund, it was reported on May 17.
Brussels has been holding up payouts from the fund, arguing that Poland’s rightwing government has engineered the country’s judiciary to compromise judges’ independence and impartiality, making them vulnerable to political pressure.
Poland stands to receive €35.4bn in grants and loans from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which the EU set up to support the bloc’s economies after the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
www.bne.eu
The deal was reportedly agreed upon late last week. According to Politico Europe, Poland will receive the money as soon as it overhauls the central and most controversial piece of the judiciary reform, the disciplinary regime for judges.
Doing so will entail removing the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme
Court, the mainstay of the disciplinary regime. Poland will also reinstate judges dismissed under the regime.
Brussels will assess the real value of the changes before deciding ultimately on unlocking funds – a safeguarding mechanism after Poland dragged its feet about the overhaul, proposing cosmetic tweaks only.
“Poland stands to receive €35.4bn in grants and loans from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which the EU set up to support the bloc’s economies after the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic”