EC Vice-President welcomes Poland’s Supreme Court legislation

Polish MPs on Wednesday approved legislation to reverse a move that had triggered a row with Brussels.

Dombrovskis was quoted by Polish Radio’s IAR news agency as saying: “We welcome the recent steps and this week’s vote in the parliament concerning” the Supreme Court.

The legislation adopted by Polish MPs aims to repeal provisions under which judges above the age of 65 were forced into retirement earlier this year.

"If the legislation comes into force, these judges will be able to return to the Supreme Court," conservative MP Marek Ast told reporters on Wednesday.

The Court of Justice of the European Union in October issued an interim injunction ruling that the contested reforms to Poland’s Supreme Court should be suspended.

In July, the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, launched a procedure against Warsaw over the reform, arguing that it undermined “the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges.”

The move followed the European Commission last December taking the unprecedented step of triggering Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Poland, stepping up pressure on Warsaw over judicial reforms and possibly paving the way for sanctions being imposed on Poland.

“We know there are other elements concerning the Constitutional Court, concerning the disciplinary council. So it is important that we work in dialogue on this. Not only in the context of rule of law, but also in the context of ensuring a stable and predictable business and investment environment,” Dombrovskis added, as quoted by IAR.

During his two-day visit two Warsaw, Dombrovskis met Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Finance Minister Teresa Czerwińska.

On Friday, he was also scheduled to meet Polish central bank chief Adam Glapiński.

(tf/pk)

Source: IAR