Report: Commission to probe Poland’s rule of law

The European Commission was due to hold an orientation debate on the 13 January 2016 on the situation in Poland and the rule of law mechanism, primarily focusing on the Polish government’s newly adopted reforms regarding the Constitutional Tribunal.

The European Parliament was also due to debate recent developments in Poland on the 19 January 2016.

Some commentators noted that the similarities between the actions of the new government in Poland and the actions over the past few years of the government of Viktor Orbán in Hungary.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: President signs Constitutional Tribunal bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/president-signs-constitutional-tribunal-bill/

ESO: Background information: Polish president signs controversial media bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/polish-president-signs-controversial-media-bill/

ESO: Background information: European Commission presents a framework to safeguard the rule of law in the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commission-presents-a-framework-to-safeguard-the-rule-of-law-in-the-european-union/

EUObserver, 11.01.16: [Opinion]: Brussels shares responsibility for Poland’s rule-of-law crisis https://euobserver.com/opinion/131770

ESO: Background information: Portal: Rule of law http://www.europeansources.info/record/portal-rule-of-law/

EUObserver, 11.01.16: What does EU scrutiny of Poland mean? https://euobserver.com/political/131779

Politico, 12.01.16: PiS partisans to Polish critics: Up yours http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-kaczynski-protests-democracy-media-schulz/

Politico, 13.01.16: Why Poland won’t be punished http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-kaczynski-democracy-protests-pis-timmermans-commission/

EurActiv, 13.01.16: Tavares: Discussing rule of law in Poland separately from Hungary will lead ‘nowhere’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/tavares-discussing-rule-law-poland-separately-hungary-will-lead

EUObserver, 13.01.16: Poland rebukes ‘left-wing’ EU commissioner https://euobserver.com/justice/131799

The Guardian, 12.01.16: European commission to debate Poland's controversial new laws http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/12/european-commission-to-debate-polands-controversial-new-laws

The Guardian, 07.01.16: [Opinion]: The pillars of Poland’s democracy are being destroyed http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/07/polish-democracy-destroyed-constitution-media-poland

Deutsche Welle, 12.01.16: Poland slams European Commission but offers olive branch to domestic opposition http://dw.com/p/1HcBv

Radio Poland, 12.01.16: European Commission to discuss Poland on Wednesday http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/236281,European-Commission-to-discuss-Poland-on-Wednesday

EUObserver, 13.01.16: Juncker and Szydlo speak ahead of Poland debate https://euobserver.com/political/131810

Spiegel Online International, 12.01.16: An Attack on Democracy? Worries over Poland Mount in Brussels and Berlin http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/worries-over-poland-mount-in-brussels-and-berlin-a-1071477.html

Gazeta Wyborcza, 13.01.16: Brussels certainly no enemy of Warsaw (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE176122-Brussels-certainly-no-enemy-of-Warsaw

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