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EU to discuss sanctions over Poland judiciary reforms Poland judiciary reforms: EU takes disciplinary measures
(about 11 hours later)
The European Commission is to discuss in Brussels whether to recommend disciplinary proceedings against Poland over its planned judicial reforms. The European Commission has launched unprecedented measures against Poland, saying its planned judicial reforms threaten the rule of law.
The Commission is concerned that democracy in Poland is under threat from a raft of new laws, including how judges are appointed. The EU body said 13 new laws have allowed the government to "interfere significantly" in the judiciary.
The Polish conservative government says the reforms are needed to curb inefficiency and corruption. It has given Poland three months to address its concerns.
Thousands of people across the country have held protests against the reforms. But the Polish conservative government said the decision was "political". It has said the reforms are needed to curb inefficiency and corruption.
The European Commission has been monitoring the situation in Poland for almost two years. Thousands of people across the country have held protests against the planned reforms.
Later on Wednesday, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will a lead a discussion about whether it is time to recommend the activation of the EU disciplinary process known as Article 7 - which has never been used before. The European Commission, which has been monitoring the situation in Poland for almost two years, asked Poland to:
It could see Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki hauled before his fellow leaders - who could insist on changes. The Commission's deputy head, First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who has conducted talks with the Polish government led by the Law and Justice Party, said there was "no other option" as the "entire structure was affected".
But no-one is considering what is seen as the "nuclear option" of suspending Poland's voting rights at EU summits, the BBC's Adam Fleming in Brussels reports. "After two years of trying for dialogue, of course we are frustrated that we haven't achieved what we want to, so now we're encouraging the council and Parliament to support us," he said.
This is because that would require all member states to agree - and Hungary has pledged to block such a move, our correspondent says. The disciplinary measures, called Article 7, could lead to the suspension of Poland's voting rights at EU summits, the BBC's Adam Fleming in Brussels reports.
The situation poses a potential diplomatic headache for British Prime Minister Theresa May who is due to meet her relatively new Polish counterpart at a summit in Warsaw on Thursday. But the situation is unlikely to result in the so-called "nuclear option" as it would require all member states to agree, and Hungary has pledged to block such a move, our correspondent says.
The situation poses a potential diplomatic headache for British Prime Minister Theresa May who is due to meet her relatively new Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki at a summit in Warsaw on Thursday.
Mr Morawiecki has said that the EU has taken a one-sided view and that his country is entitled to carry out reforms.Mr Morawiecki has said that the EU has taken a one-sided view and that his country is entitled to carry out reforms.