EP debate on Poland shelved

The issue will not be tabled at next week’s session of the European Parliament, the head of the EPP, Manfred Weber, announced on Wednesday.

“In the European Parliament and the European Union a lot of people and politicians are very concerned about developments in Poland,” Weber, said, referring to controversies that arose after Law and Justice (PiS), in power since November, overturned their predecessors’ decision to nominate five new judges to the Constitutional Tribunal. On Wednesday, President Andrzej Duda swore in the last of five new judges selected by Law and Justice to replace the judges chosen by Civic Platform (PO) shortly before losing power.

Weber told journalists: “For the moment, [the EPP bloc] has decided to have no debate in the European Parliament about the ongoing discussions in Poland, because we trust in the Constitutional Court in Poland,” he told journalists.

Weber, who reportedly forwarded the proposal to put the discussion on the EP’s agenda, stepped away from the idea following yesterday’s talks with Poland’s former foreign affairs minister Grzegorz Schetyna and MEP Jan Olbrycht, among others. The proposal was initially supported by the EP’s socialists and liberals.

“My colleagues from [Civic Platform] asked me to postpone the discussion, because they really count on the internal decision-making process that there will be a good outcome,” Weber added.

The issue may, however, still be tabled in January, the EPP leadership said. (aba/pk)

Source: IAR