The EU has stepped up the pressure on Poland over its controversial judicial and media reforms.
The EU has stepped up the pressure on Poland over its controversial judicial and media reforms.
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They give ministers the power to appoint the heads of public media companies, and choose judges for Poland’s constitutional court.
The European Commission on Wednesday issued a negative opinion on the changes as part of its rule of law investigation.
“If you are member of the EU, you have signed and ratified the treaty and the treaty has some rules, said Frans Timmermans, the Commission’s first vice-president.
“I think it is only right that these rules should then also be applied.”
“The Commission does not intend to involve itself in a political debate in Poland. Political issues in Poland are the business of politicians in Poland. Not the European Commission,” he said. “Our business is preserving the rule of law.”
Talks held between Brussels and Warsaw in recent days failed to diffuse the row.
Poland’s centre-right, eurosceptic government has called the announcement “one-sided.”