Rule-of-law row with Poland set to dominate EU leaders’ summit

A summit of European Union leaders starting on Thursday that was originally intended to discuss dramatically rising energy prices is now set to be overshadowed by an increasingly bitter feud with Poland over the rule of law.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is facing pressure from his EU counterparts to bring his country into conformity with the principles of the bloc it signed up to in 2004.

The issue at stake is a ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal earlier this month stating that some elements of EU law were not in accordance with the country’s constitution.

The ruling brings to a head differences between Poland and the bloc over several principles of democracy, ranging from judicial independence, freedom of media opinion to rights of women, migrants and LGBTQ people.

What have EU leaders said?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed for compromise upon arriving at the summit in Brussels. “The rule of law is a central pillar of the European Union,” Merkel said. “On the other hand, we must find ways and possibilities to come together again.”

Merkel cautioned against opting for the legal route when challenges presented themselves saying, “a cascade of legal disputes at the European Court of Justice still isn’t a solution to the question of how the rule of law can work in practice.”

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office meanwhile said he had communicated his concerns with Morawiecki and urged him to discuss the matter with the European Commission in order to find a compatible solution.

Its understood a meeting between the two leaders took place at Brussels airport ahead of the summit.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte took a harder stance and said EU leaders must demand Poland safeguard its judicial independence. “We have to be tough, but the question is how do we get there,” Rutte said upon arriving at the summit.

“The independence of the Polish judiciary is the key issue we have to discuss. It is very difficult to see how a big new fund of money could be made available to Poland when this is not settled,” Rutte stressed.

Morawiecki said Poland would try and resolve the disputes and was ready for dialogue, but would not respond to blackmail. 

“We will not act under the pressure of blackmail, we are ready for dialogue, we do not agree to the ever-expanding competences (of EU institutions), but we will of course talk about how to resolve the current disputes in dialogue,” Morawiecki said.

Financial penalties possible

Warsaw could face financial penalties for its actions, with France and the Netherlands particularly objecting to EU money going to governments that undercut democratic principles and human rights, such as those in Hungary and Poland.

The European Commission has already temporarily stopped Warsaw from taking its share of €57 billion ($66 billion) in emergency funds aimed at helping the economies of EU member states to recover from the COVID pandemic. The European Parliament is also to vote later on Thursday on whether to call on the bloc to cut its handouts for Poland over the rights violations.

Since joining the bloc, Poland has enjoyed significant benefits from EU funding, and public support for remaining a member is high, despite the moves by the government that would seem to suggest a potential exit.

Morawiecki has dismissed suggestions of a “Polexit.”

Energy prices also on agenda

Apart from the likely focus on Poland, leaders are set to discuss ways of countering surging energy prices.

Options to be discussed could be lowering taxes, delivering direct financial aid to households most at risk and giving state aid to small businesses.

One proposal that could be on the table is that of joint gas storage and procurement. France is also calling for a review of the way electricity is priced in the bloc, while touting nuclear power as a climate-friendly energy option.

The two days of talks will also likely include discussions on the COVID-19 pandemic that is still causing surges in infections in several member states, while vaccination rates are still extremely low in some countries.

kb,tj/sms (Reuters, dpa)

Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/rule-of-law-row-with-poland-set-to-dominate-eu-leaders-summit/a-59571511?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf