Rule of Law: Commission issues recommendation to Poland

The European Commission adopted on 27 July 2016 a Recommendation on the situation in Poland, in the context of the Rule of Law Framework.

The Recommendation followed the adoption by the Polish parliament of a new law on the Constitutional Tribunal on 22 July 2016. This law addressed some of the concerns highlighted by the Commission in its Opinion released on 1 June 2016, but it was considered that important issues of concern regarding the rule of law in the country remained.

The Commission still believed that there was a systemic threat to the rule of law in Poland. It therefore layed out concrete recommendations to the Polish authorities on how to address those concerns. If no follow-up was communicated, the 'Article 7 Procedure' could be triggered.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 27.07.16: EU confrontation with Poland escalates https://euobserver.com/justice/134509

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/2644, 27.07.16: Commission Recommendation regarding the Rule of Law in Poland: Questions & Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2644_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/2657, 28.07.16: Opening remarks of First Vice-President Timmermans on the Rule of Law Recommendation to Poland http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-2657_en.htm

EurActiv, 27.07.16: EU gives Poland three months to address rule-of-law concerns http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-gives-poland-three-months-to-address-rule-of-law-concerns/

The Guardian, 27.07.16: Poland's rule of law under systematic threat, says EU executive https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/27/poland-rule-of-law-systematic-threat-european-commission

The Wall Street Journal, 27.07.16: EU Gives Poland Three Months to Resolve Court Crisis http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-gives-poland-three-months-to-resolve-court-crisis-1469630743

Radio Poland, 27.07.16: Poland says EU Commission recommendations on court ‘premature’ http://www.thenews.pl/1/53/Artykul/263860,Poland-says-EU-Commission-recommendations-on-court-%E2%80%98premature%E2%80%99

Deutsche Welle, 27.07.16: EU gives Warsaw three months to resolve constitutional gridlock http://dw.com/p/1JWfL

Politico, 28.07.16: Polish leader: Commission criticism ‘amuses me’ http://www.politico.eu/article/polish-leader-commission-criticism-amuses-me-jaroslaw-kaczynski-beyong-eu-treaty-power/

Politico, 27.07.16: Commission turns up heat on Poland over constitutional crisis http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-turns-up-heat-on-poland-over-constitutional-crisis/

ESO: Background information: Polish MPs in heated debate over rules on Constitutional Tribunal http://www.europeansources.info/record/polish-mps-in-heated-debate-over-rules-on-constitutional-tribunal/

Poland: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Statement, 27.07.16: MFA statement on decision of the European Commission http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/news/mfa_statement_on_decision_of_the_european_commission_1

Radio Poland, 22.07.16: New Constitutional Tribunal bill on its way to president http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/263082,New-Constitutional-Tribunal-bill-on-its-way-to-president

Radio Poland, 25.07.16: Polish Tribunal bill does not dispel number of concerns: EU Commission http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/263500,Polish-Tribunal-bill-does-not-dispel-number-of-concerns-EU-Commission

EUObserver, 28.07.16: [Opinion] EU political pressure alone cannot save the rule of law https://euobserver.com/opinion/134522

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2016: EU gives Poland ultimatum on legal reform http://www.eurotopics.net/en/163463/eu-gives-poland-ultimatum-on-legal-reform

EurActiv, 12.08.16: [Opinion]: Kaczynski chooses confrontation over compromise with EU http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/opinion/kaczynski-chooses-confrontation-over-compromise-with-eu/

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 19.08.16: Commission Opinion of 1 June 2016 regarding the Rule of Law in Poland: Full text now available http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/commission-opinion-of-1-june-2016.html

ECFR: Commentary, 16.08.16: Kaczynski chooses confrontation over compromise with EU http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_kaczynski_chooses_confrontation_over_compromise_with_eu_7098

EUObserver, 19.08.16: EU to shed more light on Poland's judicial crisis https://euobserver.com/political/134681

Blog: Polish Politics Blog, 02.08.16: Is there an end in sight to Poland’s constitutional crisis? https://polishpoliticsblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/is-there-an-end-in-sight-to-polands-constitutional-crisis/

EUObserver, 30.08.16: End in sight for EU-Poland dispute, says deputy PM https://euobserver.com/economic/134805

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