Why the Commission is treating Poland more harshly than Hungary in its rule of law review

In January, the European Commission announced an inquiry into whether recent Polish reforms affecting the country’s constitutional tribunal and media are consistent with the rule of law. Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska writes that the Commission’s review has been noticeably different from its previous approach in relation to Hungary, where there have been similar concerns raised over reforms carried out by Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz government. She argues that the presence of stronger pro-EU sentiments within Poland, as well as the fact that Fidesz has more political allies at the European level, may go some way toward explaining why the cases have been handled differently.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The European Commission’s rule of law review in Poland risks fuelling Euroscepticism http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-european-commissions-rule-of-law-review-in-poland-risks-fuelling-euroscepticism/

ESO: Background information: College Orientation Debate on recent developments in Poland and the Rule of Law Framework: Questions & Answers http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-college-orientation-debate-on-recent-developments-in-poland-and-the-rule-of-law-framework-questions-answers/

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