EU reacts 'positively' to Poland's rule-of-law restoration plan
Poland’s plan to reinstate rule-of-law standards has been well received in Brussels, the European Commission's Vice-President Vera Jourova said on Tuesday.
"After six years of discussions, after six years of debate under Article 7 (of the Treaty on European Union - PAP), this is the first positive step forward which might see the closure of the procedure," she told journalists.
In December 2017, the EC slapped Poland with its Article 7 procedure in response to what it saw as being risks to the rule of law and EU values in the country.
Dubbed a 'nuclear weapon' in Europe, Article 7 targets violations of the European Union's fundamental principles.
The plan which was presented by Justice Minister Adam Bodnar consisted of a number of legislative changes aimed at reversing the reforms of the judiciary in Poland implemented by the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government, which, according to critics, have allowed the justice system to be influenced by party interest.
According to Bodnar, "there is no need to continue the Article 7 procedure against Poland as we are all fully engaged in restoring the rule of law."
In his view, "the completion of the procedure holds a symbolic value to Poland, because it will mean that we are an equal member state of the European Union which is not subject to critique because it violates European values, especially the rule of law."
He added: "If that comes to be, Poland will be in a stronger position to realise its own projects on the European level... but also... to become one of the main voices in the context of the foreign policy of the European Union, including its defence."
Apart from that, the closure of the procedure would unlock billions of frozen funds in the EU's post-pandemic funds that Poland is in line to receive under the National Recovery Plan (KPO), as soon as the country abides by the European standards. (PAP)
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