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| Theresa May refuses to criticise Poland’s slide into authoritarianism during visit, insisting 'it's a matter for them' | Theresa May refuses to criticise Poland’s slide into authoritarianism during visit, insisting 'it's a matter for them' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has refused to criticise Poland’s slide into authoritarianism on a visit to the country, insisting the concerns are “a matter” for its authorities. | Theresa May has refused to criticise Poland’s slide into authoritarianism on a visit to the country, insisting the concerns are “a matter” for its authorities. |
| The European Union has started a legal process that could suspend Poland’s voting rights on the Council of Ministers, warning “the entire structure of the justice system” is under threat. | The European Union has started a legal process that could suspend Poland’s voting rights on the Council of Ministers, warning “the entire structure of the justice system” is under threat. |
| The unprecedented move follows the Polish Government’s attempts to stuff courts with political appointees, including tribunals that will decide the validity of election results. | The unprecedented move follows the Polish Government’s attempts to stuff courts with political appointees, including tribunals that will decide the validity of election results. |
| Ahead of the meeting in Warsaw, Downing Street briefed that the Prime Minister would “raise her concerns with the [Polish] Prime Minister when they meet”. | Ahead of the meeting in Warsaw, Downing Street briefed that the Prime Minister would “raise her concerns with the [Polish] Prime Minister when they meet”. |
| But, asked about the controversy, Mrs May replied: “These constitutional issues are normally, should be primarily, a matter for the individual country concerned”. | But, asked about the controversy, Mrs May replied: “These constitutional issues are normally, should be primarily, a matter for the individual country concerned”. |
| At the press conference, the Prime Minister had tough words for Vladimir Putin, saying: “The Kremlin is trying to undermine the international rules based system. They will not succeed.” | At the press conference, the Prime Minister had tough words for Vladimir Putin, saying: “The Kremlin is trying to undermine the international rules based system. They will not succeed.” |
| But a difference of opinion emerged with the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, over what should happen to the 1m Poles living in the UK after Brexit. | But a difference of opinion emerged with the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, over what should happen to the 1m Poles living in the UK after Brexit. |
| Mrs May said she wanted them to stay, hailing a provisional deal with the EU – but Mr Morawiecki said he wanted them to return to Poland and its growing economy. | Mrs May said she wanted them to stay, hailing a provisional deal with the EU – but Mr Morawiecki said he wanted them to return to Poland and its growing economy. |
| Brussels has cracked down after growing fears of a rising nationalist movement in Poland, operating with the tacit support of the Government, led by the right-wing Law and Justice party. | |
| For the first time, the Commission has invoked Article 7.1, warning that a legal breakdown in one country “means breaking down the smooth functioning of the Union as a whole”. | For the first time, the Commission has invoked Article 7.1, warning that a legal breakdown in one country “means breaking down the smooth functioning of the Union as a whole”. |
| Donald Tusk, the European Council president, protested that he had received no response to a request for a one-to-one meeting with Mr Morawiecki. | Donald Tusk, the European Council president, protested that he had received no response to a request for a one-to-one meeting with Mr Morawiecki. |
| At the press conference, Mrs May hailed the “relationship between the United Kingdom and Poland, based on a shared history and a shared tradition”. | At the press conference, Mrs May hailed the “relationship between the United Kingdom and Poland, based on a shared history and a shared tradition”. |
| And, on Article 7 specifically, she added: “Across Europe, we have collective belief in the rule of law. | And, on Article 7 specifically, she added: “Across Europe, we have collective belief in the rule of law. |
| “I welcome the fact that Prime Minister Morawiecki has indicated that he will be speaking with the European Commission and I hope that that will lead to a satisfactory resolution.” | “I welcome the fact that Prime Minister Morawiecki has indicated that he will be speaking with the European Commission and I hope that that will lead to a satisfactory resolution.” |
| Mr Morawiecki insisted that "deep reform" of the Polish justice system was needed in the light of the country's communist past as a member of the former Soviet bloc. | |
| And he hit back at Germany, arguing that “after the fall of communism in the German Democratic Republic, only 35 per cent of judges were positively vetted”. | |
| Meanwhile, Mrs May welcomed the signing of a “landmark” defence and security co-operation treaty between the UK and Poland, and said they would be bolstering co-operation against Russian “disinformation” in the region. | |
| “There could be no clearer expression of the closeness of the UK's relationship with Poland,” she said. | |
| Downing Street said the defence treaty was only the second such agreement the UK has signed with a European ally, after an agreement with France. | |
| It aims for enhanced co-operation in training, information sharing, defence procurement and joint exercises between the Nato partners. |