PRESS RELEASE
Brussels
2 June 2018
German and Polish Green leaders have co-signed a letter to First Vice President of the EU Commission Frans Timmermans warning him of the threat to the rule of law in Poland since the new reforms came into effect on 3 April 2018.
The letter was signed by the chairwoman of the German Greens Annalena Baerbock together with European Green Party co-chair Reinhard Bütikofer, and his Polish counterpart Małgorzata Tracz.
They responded to the significance of the reforms:
“We strongly urge First Vice President of the EU Commission Frans Timmermans to carefully consider the implications of the Polish reforms to its judiciary.
“Once the effect of the new legislation fully comes into force on 3 July with the enforced retirement of judges age 65+ as well as other significant changes, the independence of Poland’s judiciary will be seriously compromised and will allow the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) to enact a series of reshuffles within the country’s highest courts to strengthen its grip on power.
“The EU must act now to ensure this does not happen using the legal means at its disposal, including referring Poland to the Court of Justice of the European Union under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union for infringement of Union law.
“Vice President Timmermans must show he has the courage and foresight to take firm and swift action to preserve the independence of Poland’s judiciary.”
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E paul.nolan@europeangreens.eu
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European Green Party
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