EC worried over Constitutional Tribunal conflict
The EC is watching the changes in the Polish Constitutional Tribunal with anxiety, the matter will be discussed at a College of Commissioners meeting on January 13, the EC spokesperson told PAP on Monday.
The spokesperson reminded that EC First Vicepresident Frans Timmermans in a December 23 letter to the Polish authorities asked to be kept informed about the Constitutional Tribunal issue and appealed for the matter to be referred to the European Commission for Democracy (Venice Commission).
In the letter Timmermans appealed for the non-passage of the new Constitutional Tribunal law until clearance of all doubts as to its effect on the tribunal's independence.
The EC spokesperson informed that Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had placed the matter on the agenda of a January 13 meeting of the College of Commissioners.
The Venice Commission informed PAP on Monday that its full response to Poland's query regarding the Constitutional Tribunal was planned during its next sitting on March 11-12.
Earlier on Monday Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a new Constitutional tribunal law authored by current ruling party Law and Justice (PiS). (PAP)
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