According to a member of his team, the EU’s Justice Commissioner was treated “brutally” in Warsaw last month during negotiations aimed at defusing a dispute over Poland’s judiciary’s independence, which is preventing billions of euros in economic aid.
Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro presented Didier Reynders with photos of a war-torn Warsaw in a meticulously choreographed media event, implying that Europe has a long history of treating Poland unfairly.
Sources told reporters that Poland’s aggressive approach at the summit crushed hopes for ententes that may help release 36 billion euros in post-pandemic recovery stimulus for Warsaw.
“The squad was a little depressed after the visit. It’s a challenging position, to say the least, “Reporters spoke with a member of the delegation. “It’s a little gloomy,” says the narrator.
Reynders was “obviously astonished” by Warsaw’s position, according to a source close to Ziobro.
“Positions have not converged,” the source said, adding that any hope in Brussels that Poland would concede at the summit was unfounded.
The EU accuses Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) of interfering in the judicial system in breach of EU law and demands that it repeals a judicial disciplinary system that has already been overturned by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Warsaw claims that reforming the judiciary is necessary to improve efficiency and remove communist-era remnants.
This dispute is part of a larger debate over democratic ideals, which encompasses issues such as women’s rights and media freedom.
Despite these disagreements, PiS has maintained strong support in Poland, where it has increased welfare spending since taking office in 2015. Outside of the big cities, its nationalist, eurosceptic message appeals to working and lower-middle-class Poles.
It’s uncertain when and how Warsaw will amend the Disciplinary Chamber of Poland’s Supreme Court in a fashion that would satisfy the executive European Commission in Brussels and allow the COVID recovery monies to be disbursed.
PILE OF MONEY
“The EU’s biggest argument (in the conflicts) is the massive pile of money (Commission President Ursula) von der Leyen is holding and won’t release until this moves,” the delegation member said.
When asked for comment on the situation, the Polish government’s press office said Warsaw’s talks with the Commission were getting closer to a compromise that would allow money to be disbursed but did not address the disciplinary chamber issue.
After his visit to Warsaw, Reynders claimed he had received no response to his questions about Poland’s plans to comply with the ECJ’s verdict against the disciplinary chamber. The Commission stated that talks with Warsaw are still ongoing.
Two further events have occurred since Reynders’ arrival, significantly eroding expectations for a quick settlement to the deadlock.
To begin with, Germany, Europe’s most powerful country, has a new ruling coalition that has taken a tougher stance on EU democratic backsliding than former center-right chancellor Angela Merkel.
The new line will be put to the test when Merkel’s Social Democrat successor, Olaf Scholz, visits Warsaw on Sunday.
Second, efforts by Poland and Hungary to stop a new instrument aimed at eliminating payments for nations that break the EU’s democratic principles have all but failed due to a legal judgment provided by an advocate-general at the ECJ.
Poland faces losing money intended for it under the EU’s common 1.1 trillion euro budget for 2021-2027, in addition to the COVID recovery payments.
For the time being, a top member of the EU’s executive indicated this week that unless Poland altered course, it would not receive the subsidies and low-interest loans that are now flowing into most other EU nations to help them recover from the pandemic.
“This task (approving Poland’s national recovery plan and disbursing cash) is unlikely to be completed this year,” EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis stated.
