Polish President Andrzej Duda was surprised at the EU Commission’s ‘double standards’ when it comes to the rule of law violations in Poland, such as changes to public media but no reaction to the arrest of two ex-ministers, according to a conversation he had with the EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourová Davos.
The meeting between Duda and Jourova at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos concerned the latest political developments in the country, with the president believing that the current government of Donald Tusk dismantled the democratic order.
One issue that Duda was especially concerned about was the replacement of the management of Polish public media with the omission of a regular legislative track.
“President Andrzej Duda explained to me his position on the changes in the public media,” Jourová told Polsat broadcaster.
Another matter concerned arresting two ex-ministers who were sentenced to two years in prison for the abuse of power on their previous posts but whom Duda considers innocent.
For this issue, the Commission does not react, Jourová said. This disappointed the Polish president, who expected a response from the EU executive for what he finds to be a sign of politicisation of the judicial system.
“I am surprised that the European Commission does not react to gross violations of the rule of law in Poland,” Duda told the press briefing.
Tusk’s broad coalition of centrist and leftist parties (EPP/S&D/Renew/Left) replaced in power the previous conservative government of the Law and Justice (PiS, ECR), which regularly faced criticism from the European Commission for its controversial reforms that the Commission found violating the rule of law.
After the arrest of the former ministers, PiS politicians Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, the biggest opposition party, went as far as to speak of “Tusk’s authoritarian regime” and hail the sentenced men as political prisoners.
Jourová’s comment confirms what the EU Commission’s spokesperson told Euractiv last week. “We are aware of the events in Poland. This is a national matter subject to control by national authorities,” the spokesperson said, adding that the Commission does not comment on individual cases.
Ball in Polish court on the EU funds
Jourová was also asked about the chances of releasing the EU recovery funds for Poland that were frozen under the PiS government due to concerns over the country’s judicial independence.
For the payments to be launched, Poland must fulfil a couple of milestones to convince the Commission that the state of the Polish judiciary does not threaten the EU’s budgetary interest.
Jourova said it is now up to Poland to propose actions that will unblock the EU funds. “The condition is clear,” she said.
She added she had already discussed the issue with the new Justice Minister, Adam Bodnar.
“He said that he was currently preparing several measures, both legislative and non-legislative. I haven’t had a chance to look at them yet,” the Czech commissioner said.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)
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Source: euractiv.com
