Justice: EU Commission seeks fines against Poland

The EU Commission has asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to impose fines on Poland. This comes in response to the ECJ's ruling demanding the suspension of the controversial Disciplinary Chamber in Poland's Supreme Court, which can review and dismiss judges and prosecutors. So far, the government has not complied. What can the penal proceedings achieve?

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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (DE) /

Good that Brussels is taking action!

The FAZ sees the move as a warning:

“The Commission is making clear how seriously it takes the dispute over the rule of law. ... The row over Poland's judiciary has long since ceased to be merely about its subordination to the government's political interests. By openly doubting the applicability of European law to Poland, the PiS government is also questioning the very foundations of European integration. Therefore, the EU Commission cannot yield in this dispute - in the interest of all other member states and the citizens of Poland. It is good that it is taking action now.”

wPolityce.pl (PL) /

Not the way to break the will of the Poles

The pro-government portal wPolityce.pl accuses Brussels of ruthlessness:

“The conclusion is that any non-left-wing government in such a large country sets a bad example that needs to be trampled upon. This is why EU treaties are being broken and violated and law and decency in mutual relations is being disregarded. The aim is to destroy evidence that a different form of politics is possible, so that people will cease to imagine or attempt a social alternative, a system of values, that is loyal to the Christian tradition, or try to defend pride in the heroism and industriousness of our forebears, or pursue a sensible policy on migration issues. But times have changed. ... This is not how they will break the will of the Poles.”