Page 44 - bne monthly magazine June 2024 Russian Despair Index

44 I Central Europe bne June 2024
Back at the top table: French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish premier Donald Tusk. / bne IntelliNews
Von der Leyen says EU will close rule-of-law dispute with Poland
Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw
The European Union will formally close the six-year-long dispute over the rule of law in Poland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on May 6.
Poland’s new government, in power since mid-December, has made
a series of steps to address the EU’s grievances over the rule of law, which
– Brussels has long said – the previous administration of Law and Justice (PiS) compromised by wide-ranging judiciary reforms in the name of national sovereignty and populist policies.
In response to PiS, the EU launched the so-called Article 7 procedure that could have suspended its voting rights, and also restricted Poland’s access to EU funds. The incumbent Polish government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk made reopening the funding tap a key campaign point ahead of elections last October.
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“Today marks a new chapter for Poland. After more than six years, we believe that the Article 7 procedure can be closed,” von der Leyen said.
“I congratulate Prime Minister 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,” von der Leyen added.
Both von der Leyen and Tusk belong to the same European political group,
the European People’s Party (EPP). Von der Leyen is standing in next month’s EU elections and is the EPP’s leading candidate to become the Commission president for a new term.
In February, Poland tabled a raft of legislative and other measures to undo changes in the judiciary forced by PiS.
Key assumptions are changes to a top court – the Constitutional Tribunal – and the judge-nominating body KRS that the Tusk government says PiS had engineered to become party tools. The Supreme Court, ordinary courts, and the prosecution service will also undergo reforms.
“Poland is consequently bringing back rule of law. We are determined and devoted to our common European values”