Poland’s rule of law dispute with the EU

The European Union could trigger a new tool against Poland – the “conditionality mechanism” – to withhold budget payments to member states that fail to adhere to the bloc’s democratic standards


2015: Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) party takes power, begins overhaul of justice system that gives party new powers over courts and appointment of judges – drawing strong criticism from EU

Feb 2020: Rift over legitimacy of EU law first emerges when Poland passes measures to prevent judges from referring certain legal cases to European Court of Justice (ECJ)

Jan 2021: EU’s conditionality mechanism comes into force, making access to funds conditional on respecting rule of law

Jul: ECJ orders Poland to suspend its “disciplinary chamber” – offshoot of Supreme Court that critics say is used by PiS to put political pressure on judges

Oct 7: Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki welcomes Polish court ruling that claims some parts of EU treaties are incompatible with Polish constitution
  
Oct 11-12: Poland and Hungary challenge conditionality mechanism in ECJ
    
Oct 19: Morawiecki to speak to members of European Parliament, together with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
At stake is almost 60 billion euros – Warsaw’s post-pandemic recovery funding, which could be suspended by Brussels
   
  
Sources: Bloomberg, Euronews, Reuters 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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