European Commission launches probe into Poland's alleged violation of European Union principles and Rule of Law

A preliminary investigation has been launched by the European Commission into Poland's alleged breach of the European Union's democratic principles by taking vast control of its constitutional court and state media.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the European Commission set the probe after the Law and Justice nationalist party, which took office following a landslide victory in the national elections in October, changed the lineup of judicial appointees to Poland's constitutional court, and passed rules that would make it difficult for the court to strike down legislation.

Poland's new media law will see the firing of all executives in the country's state-run television and radio companies, and replacing them with appointees chosen by the parliament.

"Freedom and pluralism of the media are crucial for a pluralist society in a member state respectful of the common values on which the union is founded," European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said in one of his letters to Warsaw, as noted by Financial Times.

To be specific, Poland reportedly violated EU's Rule of Law Framework, in which Warsaw and the European Commission exchanged correspondence in a bid to have the former retract some of its act that were deemed in violation of EU principles.

Failure to comply with the Rule of Law Framework could lead to sanctions against Poland, such as the suspension of its voting rights in the European Union, Reuters reported.

Timmermans said in conference Wednesday that while the commission does not intend to "question any of the democratic choices made by the Polish people," the probe is necessary because the infringement of treasured EU values is considered a serious offense.

"There can be no democracy and respect for fundamental rights without respect for the rule of law," he added.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said that the European Commission is poking at an issue that does not exist, while blatantly ignoring the problem of mass migration in the EU's passport-free travel zone.

"Poland has been wrongly accused of violating the rules of a democratic state of law. It's not true. It's slander. Democracy in Poland is doing well," Szydlo asserted.

Poland's Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski also expressed his concern of the move being pursued by the commission, which has tainted Poland image.

"I am concerned about comments from this or other commissioners who do not know the situation in the country, who do not have access to the documentation, yet already somewhere in the pages of the media express concern," Waszczykowski said.

He added that there been zero cases of media executives being fired from their posts. He also defended the decision to change some laws, saying it was necessary to eliminate "deep-rooted diseases" which have caused the decline of Polish politics. 

Tags

European Commission, European Union, Poland, Rule of Law Framework, breach of EU principles, Frans Timmermans, Beata Szydlo, Witold Waszczykowski, Polish laws, Polish politcs

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