The European Commission has started a legal action against Poland over a judicial reform.
“The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Poland by sending a Letter of Formal Notice, following the publication in the Polish Official Journal of the Law on the Ordinary Courts Organisation on Friday 28 July,” the European Commission’s press service said in a statement.
The statement added that Poland had one month to respond to the letter.
Earlier, the Polish parliament’s lower house adopted a draft bill concerning the functioning of the country’s Supreme Court, which would change the system of appointing the court’s judges and allow for the dismissal of current judges, except those nominated by the justice minister.
The EU considers this reform as “undermining the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law”,according to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The EC recommended against the dismissal or forced retirement of Polish Supreme Court judges as a step that would “seriously aggravate the systemic threat to the rule of law.” Brussels has threatened to deprive Poland of voting rights in case of its failure to address the issue.