Poland positive after EU grilling over judicial reforms

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Poland was quizzed on Tuesday by its fellow European Union members over judicial reforms the bloc believes puts the country's courts under greater political control – the first time an EU state has been questioned over the strength of its rule of law.

The changes made by Poland's ruling nationalists have been criticized for flouting democratic checks and balances, and have left Poland increasingly isolated within the bloc. However, the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is reluctant to make further concessions.

The executive European Commission triggered a punitive procedure against Poland for weakening the rule of law in December. Tuesday's meeting saw European affairs and foreign ministers from the other 27 EU states quiz their Polish counterpart.

Italy's Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi (L) and Polish European Affairs Minister Konrad Szymanski (R) speak during a meeting in Luxembourg, June 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

Polish Secretary of State for EU Affairs Konrad Szymanski said after the two-hour meeting in Luxembourg that he made Warsaw's case for the reforms and was pleased with the outcome.

"I think we have satisfied the EU's curiosity over the judicial reforms in Poland," Szymanski said. "I am convinced that we are near to the end our differences with the EU."

What's the dispute about?

As part of the broader overhaul introduced since PiS won power in late 2015, some 40 percent of Supreme Court judges will be forced into early retirement from July. New judges on the body that validates election results will in future be appointed by the president, currently a PiS ally.

The PiS says the changes are needed to streamline a deeply inefficient court system and rid Poland of vestiges of communism.

After two years in which its rift with Brussels has deepened, Warsaw has this year offered some concessions to mend fences, including reining in somewhat the newly-enhanced powers of the justice minister to name and dismiss judges at will.

EU European affairs ministers hold a first hearing into claims Poland's court reforms breach rule of law in Luxembourg, June 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

But the EU says it is not enough and that upholding the rule of law – one of the bloc's founding principles – is not a matter of political deals between Warsaw and the Commission.

"There can't be any political discounts when it comes to the rule of law," said Michael Roth, European affairs minister for Germany, which made a joint presentation with France at Tuesday's meeting. "We need substantial advances, especially when it comes to the independence of the Polish judiciary."

Their stance is backed by countries like the Netherlands and Sweden and the ongoing review by the Commission could in theory lead to a suspension of Poland's EU voting rights, though Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said he would veto such a move.

The prospect of an EU member flouting central EU tenets such as the separation of democratic powers or freedom of expression has emerged as a key challenge to the future of the union, already damaged by Brexit and rising euroskeptic populism.

Poland is currently the main beneficiary of EU funds. It is already set for cuts as it has become richer since the current budget was agreed and the EU's priorities are shifting from building basic infrastructure in the east to projects that will help southern member states deal with a migrant crisis.

(With inputs from agencies)

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