the European Commission will lift its threat of sanctions, which has weighed on Warsaw since December 2017

This procedure was initiated in reaction to the judicial reforms implemented by the nationalist Law and Justice party, in power since 2023.

For the European Commission, “there is no longer a clear risk of a serious violation of the rule of law in Poland within the meaning of Article 7 of the Treaty” of the European Union. SHighlighting the efforts undertaken by the government of Donald Tusk, in place since 2023, Brussels announced on Monday May 6 its intention to put an end to a procedure which targeted Warsaw, after the former nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) had initiated place of judicial reforms accused of undermining the independence of judges.

In December 2017the European executive had activated Article 7 against Poland, in a hitherto unprecedented approach.

This Commission decision will be submitted to the Ministers of the Twenty-Seven during the General Affairs Council on May 21, during which they will be able to present their possible observations.

Warsaw immediately greeted “good news”. “This strengthens Poland within the European Union (…) There is no longer this negative shadow over us”, reacted the Minister of Development and Regional Policies, Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz, on the TVN24 channel.

A “new chapter for Poland”

The President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, welcomed a “new chapter for Poland”, congratulating the authorities of this country for this “major breakthrough”.

To justify the end of this procedure, the European executive emphasizes that the country has launched a series of measures to improve the independence of its judicial system, recognized the primacy of European law, and is committed to implementing the decisions of EU justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Brussels thus welcomed the action plan on the rule of law presented in February by Warsaw, as well as the country’s participation in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In February, the Commission had already highlighted Warsaw’s efforts in terms of the rule of law to announce the release of European funds previously frozen due to controversial PiS reforms. This paved the way for more than 136 billion euros in payments by 2027.

After Poland’s withdrawal, Viktor Orban’s Hungary will be the only member state targeted by the Article 7 procedure, intended to sanction a member country where a violation is noted. “serious violation” of the rule of law. This measure can, in theory, go as far as a suspension of this country’s voting rights within the Council of the EU.