Poland judiciary reforms: EU takes disciplinary measures

The European Union has launched unprecedented disciplinary measures against Poland, saying its judicial reforms threaten the rule of law.

It said 13 new laws in two years have allowed the government to "interfere significantly" in the judiciary.

Poland has been given three months to address the concerns.

In defiance of the EU move, President Andrzej Duda signed into law two bills reforming the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary.

Mr Duda said this would deepen democracy in Poland, improve the justice system and restore citizens' faith in the judiciary.Poland's conservative government called the EU decision "political". It has repeatedly stated that the reforms are needed to curb inefficiency and corruption.

What is the EU saying?

After almost two years monitoring the situation in Poland, the European Commission - the EU executive - said this was a matter of "common concern" for the 28-member bloc.

At a meeting in Brussels, the Commission decided to launch disciplinary measures, called Article 7, and asked Warsaw to:

• Not apply lower retirement age to current judges
• Remove the discretionary power of the president to prolong the mandate of Supreme Court judges
• Remove the new retirement regime for judges including the discretionary powers of the Minister of Justice
• Restore the independence and legitimacy of the Constitutional Tribunal

The Commission's deputy head, First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who had conducted talks with the Polish government led by the Law and Justice party (PiS), said there was "no other option" as the "entire structure was affected".

Source: BBC NEWS