The European Commission announced, Monday May 6, its intention to put an end to a procedure initiated in December 2017 against Poland, considering that “there is no longer a clear risk of a serious violation of the rule of law” in this country.
“Today marks a new chapter for Poland. After more than six years, we believe that the Article 7 process can be closed. I congratulate Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government on this major step forward,” said the president of the European executive, Ursula von der Leyen.
The procedure under Article 7 of the EU Treaty can theoretically lead to a suspension of a country’s voting rights in the EU Council, in the event of a “serious violation” of the rule of law. in a member state.
It was launched by the Commission in December 2017 against Poland due to concerns over the judicial reforms implemented by the nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), in power until 2023, accused of undermining the independence of judges.
A renewal of relationships
Relations between the EU and Warsaw have experienced a revival since the defeat of PiS in the October legislative elections and the coming to power of pro-European forces led by Donald Tusk. For the Commission, “there is no longer a clear risk of a serious violation of the rule of law in Poland within the meaning of Article 7 of the EU Treaty.”
She underlines that this country has launched a series of measures to respond to concerns about the independence of its judicial system, recognized the primacy of European law and is committed to applying the decisions of the EU justice system and the Court European Union of Human Rights.
The European executive welcomes the action plan on the rule of law presented in February by Warsaw, as well as this country’s decision to participate in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. This decision will be submitted to the ministers of the 27 during the General Affairs Council on May 21, during which they will be able to present their observations. The Commission will then formally end the procedure.
The Article 7 procedure has only been triggered against one other Member State: Viktor Orban’s Hungary, this time at the initiative of the European Parliament, in September 2018, due to a “systemic” threat to EU values in this country.