POLAND IN THE EU

Challenging times for a dream come true

WARSAW: Poland’s entry into the European Union in 2004 was a dream come true just 15 years after it shed communism, but today its rightwing government is posing an unprecedented challenge to the authority of Brussels in enforcing democratic standards, including the rule of law, reports AFP.

Poles are overwhelmingly EU-enthusiastic, with nearly 90 percent backing membership of the bloc that has given the country billions of euros in subsidies, turbo-charging its economic development.

But tensions came to a head this week as the EU launched unprecedented disciplinary proceedings over Warsaw’s judicial reforms, which Brussels insists threaten democracy by putting the courts under government control.

Warsaw insists the reforms are necessary to root out the last vestiges of communism from the justice system.

But Brussels contends that 13 laws adopted by Poland in the space of two years have created a situation where the government “can systematically politically interfere with the composition, powers, the administration and the functioning” of judicial authorities.

The EU’s censure could ultimately lead to Poland losing its voting rights in the bloc.

Poland dismissed the EU’s decision as being “political” while its president, Andrzej Duda, defiantly signed into law two hotly contested judicial reforms just hours after the censure process was launched.

He also accused Brussels of lies and hypocrisy for pushing ahead with the disciplinary action.

While agreeing to dialogue with the European Commission, Warsaw has also made it clear that it has no intention of budging on its reforms.

Its boldness is likely rooted in the backing it enjoys from fellow EU rebel Hungary.

Budapest has promised to torpedo any possible sanctions against Poland, which require the unanimous agreement of all other EU members.

Warsaw-based political scientist Kazimierz Kik believes the current conflict is rooted in ideological differences between Poland’s rightwing populist and nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party government and the liberal elites that dominate the EU.

Poland “is not in conflict with the European Union, but with its neo-liberal elites, Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, who comprise the majority in the European Parliament and the Commission,” Kik, who identifies himself as a leftist PiS supporter, told AFP.

 

POLAND IN THE EU

Challenging times for a dream come true

WARSAW: Polands entry into the European Union in 2004 was a dream come true just 15 years after it shed communism, but today its rightwing government is posing an unprecedented challenge to the authority of Brussels in enforcing democratic standards, including the rule of law, reports AFP. Poles are overwhelmingly EU-enthusiastic, with nearly 90 percent backing membership of the bloc that has given the country billions of euros in subsidies, turbo-charging its economic development. But tensions came to a head this week as the EU launched unprecedented disciplinary proceedings over Warsaws judicial reforms, which Brussels insists threaten democracy by putting the courts under government control. Warsaw insists the reforms are necessary to root out the last vestiges of communism from the justice system. But Brussels contends that 13 laws adopted by Poland in the space of two years have created a situation where the government can systematically politically interfere with the composition, powers, the administration and the functioning of judicial authorities. The EUs censure could ultimately lead to Poland losing its voting rights in the bloc. Poland dismissed the EUs decision as being political while its president, Andrzej Duda, defiantly signed into law two hotly contested judicial reforms just hours after the censure process was launched. He also accused Brussels of lies and hypocrisy for pushing ahead with the disciplinary action. While agreeing to dialogue with the European Commission, Warsaw has also made it clear that it has no intention of budging on its reforms. Its boldness is likely rooted in the backing it enjoys from fellow EU rebel Hungary. Budapest has promised to torpedo any possible sanctions against Poland, which require the unanimous agreement of all other EU members. Warsaw-based political scientist Kazimierz Kik believes the current conflict is rooted in ideological differences between Polands rightwing populist and nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party government and the liberal elites that dominate the EU. Poland is not in conflict with the European Union, but with its neo-liberal elites, Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, who comprise the majority in the European Parliament and the Commission, Kik, who identifies himself as a leftist PiS supporter, told AFP.