STEERING COMMITTEE

Statement "Legislative Changes in Poland Undermine Separation of Powers and Threaten the Rule of Law Principles"

In the run-up to the European Commission’s internal debate on the situation in Poland, the Steering Committee of the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum expressed concern about recent controversial changes in Polish laws and urged the Polish government, the ruling “Law and Justice” Party, and President Andrzej Duda to reverse these changes and hold on to standards of rule of law and the democratic separation of powers.

On 25 October 2015, the “Law and Justice” Party won the general election in Poland. As a result, it possesses a majority in both chambers of the Parliament – the Sejm and the Senate – and has President Andrzej Duda, a former member of the party, as its ally. Unfortunately, the mandate granted by the Polish society to the “Law and Justice” Party in the elections seems to have been used to increase control of the government over the third branch of power, the judiciary, and the fourth, the media.

At an accelerated pace and just before the New Year holidays, both chambers of the Parliament passed an amendment to the Act on the Constitutional Tribunal and later another amendment to the Act on the Public Media. These changes were adopted without consultations with civil society and the expert community and despite protests by human rights groups and significant segments of the public.

Read more

MEDIA

Dr Małgorzata Bonikowska (Centre for International Relations, Warsaw, Poland): 'It Would Have Been Much Better If the Critics Had Looked at Facts'

As President of the Centre for International Relations, a think tank primarily involved in the activities in the field of Poland's foreign and EU politics, which burning issues do you see in this respect now for the country and your organisation as a research institution?

First of all, we want to continue our activities within EU topics, and we are highly worried about Poland’s future in the EU. Up to date, good cooperation and partnership with EU leading countries, and in particular Germany as our neighbour, but also other states have been crucial for us. Hence, we would like to find out the position of the new Polish government towards the key point of reference in our foreign policy. That’s why the EU role and the position of Poland in the EU is the number one question, especially concerning our German neighbours. If there is a change in the position, we would like to understand, which accents have been set.  Of course, our role in the EU is quite important and no one neglects that, but the accent and the details is the question.

On 19 January 2016, Beata Szydło, Polish Prime Minister, defended the position of her government at the European Parliament. Besides, Zbigniew Ziobro, Polish Minister of Justice, harshly reacted to the rule of law framework initiated by the European Commission. What do you expect from these EC-Poland negotiations?

I do hope there will be more understanding between the parties – and that will relieve the situation. In fact, I don’t see any interest from the Polish side or from the European Commission or any other of the EU Institutions to deteriorate this issue between a member state and the EU Institutions. I believe both parties are interested in finding a better way of communication and handling all the matters, which are not well presented or explained in the mutual context. Certainly, the result of this process will depend on what the attitude of the EU institutions towards these explanations will be and which decisions will be met on the Polish side. If both parties want to cooperate well, they will easily resolve the occurred problem. And I do hope there will be no need for more debates on Poland at the European Parliament.

Read more

MEMBERS' VIEWS