EU to Poland: Comply with rules or you could lose cash
THE man in charge of the European Union’s budget raised the possibility on Wednesday of Poland losing out financially if it refuses to give ground in a bitter dispute with the bloc over its judicial reforms.
EU Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger’s comments came after Poland’s new prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, pressed a charm offensive in Brussels aimed at smoothing relations badly strained by disputes over the courts and also over migration.
But Mr Morawiecki, a former banker who took the reins of the conservative government in Warsaw last month, showed no sign of scrapping the judicial overhaul that critics, including Brussels, say weaken judicial independence and the rule of law.
Poland’s nationalist ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), says the reforms are needed because the judiciary is still steeped in the mindset and practices of the postwar communist era. The party has also tightened control over state media.
Poland’s feud with Brussels have left a country once seen as the posterchild of post-communist transition increasingly isolated in the EU as crucial negotiations over the bloc’s next seven-year budget begin. Poland is currently the biggest beneficiary of EU funds, receiving seven billion euros in 2016.
Mr Morawiecki has made clear he sees the EU funds as key to helping Poland close the economic gap with wealthier countries in western Europe.
Before flying to Brussels, Mr Morawiecki sacked several ministers who have clashed most sharply with the EU since PiS took power in late 2015. Among those who lost their posts on Tuesday was the staunchly conservative Environment Minister Jan Szyszko, who has spearheaded large-scale logging in an ancient forest that prompted action by the European Court of Justice.
Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, a former anti-communist crusader facing criticism over delays in modernising the army as well as conflicts with top generals, and Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski were also dismissed.
Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro however kept his job, and new rules give him powers to appoint the heads of lower-level courts as well as oversight over prosecutors.
Despite Mr Morawiecki’s conciliatory gestures and rhetoric, it remains unclear whether Poland can reach a compromise with Brussels over its judicial reforms by February 27, when the 28 EU member states are due to debate the matter. PiS, which faces a string of elections from late 2018, can also draw comfort from opinion polls putting its support at 40-45 per cent, well ahead of its rivals, a performance reinforced by Poland’s strong economic growth.