EU seeks penalties on Poland in dispute over judicial reform: Reuters

Sept 7 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Tuesday it had asked the EU's top court to impose financial penalties on Poland over the activities of a judges' disciplinary chamber, stepping up a long-running dispute with Warsaw over the rule of law.

European flags flutter outside the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Photo: PAP/EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Critics say the disciplinary chamber is politicized and the European Union's court of justice, ruling that it undercuts the bloc's law, has ordered that it be dissolved.

The Polish government said three weeks ago that the chamber would be dismantled as part of wider judiciary reforms in coming months, but the EU's executive Commission said on Tuesday it was now taking action.

"The Commission is asking the Court to impose a daily penalty payment on Poland for as long as the measures imposed by the court's order are not fully implemented," the Commission said in a statement.

"The Commission also decided to send a letter of formal notice ... to Poland, for not taking the necessary measures to comply fully with the judgment of the Court of Justice."

Today, we decided to request the Court of Justice to impose financial penalties on Poland related to the functioning of the Disciplinary Chamber of the Polish Supreme Court.

Read our press release ↓

— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) September 7, 2021

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and John Chalmers)

1/3 Today, we adopt two decisions related to independence of judges in Poland. First, we ask @EUCourtPress for financial penalties against Poland on the activity of the Disciplinary Chamber that is still scheduling hearings and does not respect the Court order.

— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) September 7, 2021

2/3 Secondly, we launched an infringement procedure because we need further details on the reforms of the Disciplinary Chamber.

— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) September 7, 2021

3/3 The rulings of the European Court of Justice must be respected across the EU. This is a must to build and nurture the necessary mutual trust between Member States and citizens alike. We remain ready to work with Polish authorities to find the way out of this crisis.

— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) September 7, 2021

Source: Reuters