European Parliament debate on Poland's rule-of-law

MEPs debated in Brussels on possibility to introduce sanctions against Poland as a response to alleged rule-of-law violations. Spearheaded by the European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, discussion centered around the EU's Article 7, which, if invoked, would strip Poland of voting rights and limit the EU funding, which according to him is a step too much at this moment. “At this stage, I'd like us to tread carefully to see to what extent the member states are willing us to move in this debate. The triggering of Article 7 will not help us in the wider context,” he said. Still, he warned the Polish government that further changes to the Polish judiciary system could bring trouble. “In every country, there are problems with the rule of law. No country is above the law. But it is never an excuse that someone else is doing the same.” Polish MEPs, even from the groupings opposing the current Law and Justice (PiS) government, were against any drastic moves. “Many Poles do not want to lose what they have gained after 1989,” Michał Boni, Civic Platform (PO) MEP said. In January last year, the Commission launched a rule-of-law probe into whether laws regarding appointing judges in Poland's top court, the Constitutional Tribunal were violating EU standards. The Polish government claims that changes were made in accordance with the law and have improved Polish judicial system.