More talks between Brussels and Warsaw would follow but, should the Commission’s concerns not be dispelled “within a reasonable time”, it can issue Warsaw with detailed recommendations and set a deadline for implementing them.
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New laws increased the number of constitutional court judges required to make rulings and changed the order in which cases are heard.
“If the government does not change its policy and doesn’t start to cooperate with its allies, then, yes, the consequences can be quite serious”, the lawmaker said, though adding that stripping Poland of its voting rights in the European Union, as suggested by some member-states, would be hard.
Poland’s deputy foreign minister Konrad Szymanski told the PAP news agency that the commission’s written opinion “brings nothing new” because the government knew it was coming.
“We have chose to send a rule-of-law opinion to the Polish authorities”, European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans told a press conference. “That’s why, regardless of the Commission’s opinion we will present our own solutions to the individual problems”.
Poland’s regional ally Hungary is likely to torpedo any possible sanctions, which would require the unanimous approval of all 28 European Union members.
Poland has been locked in a political stalemate after the Law and Justice party, which came to power in October, introduced sweeping reforms to the Constitutional Tribunal and other institutions, prompting anti-government protests and criticism from overseas.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Timmermans said: “Let me be clear that the commission does not intend and does not wish to involve itself in a political debate in Poland”.
Now the Polish government will have two weeks to respond to the opinion.
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The Commission would like to see Polish authorities find a way out of this situation, Timmermans said. If it fails to satisfy European Union concerns, the Commission could recommend that Warsaw solve the problems identified within a fixed time limit. The government said it wants to work with the 28-nation bloc to resolve the issues. Poland would not be allowed to cast its vote in the process and would not be involved in calculations of the majorities required. Political issues in Poland are the business of politicians in Poland.
