EU to unblock aid for Poland, ending row over democracy

WARSAW, Poland (AFP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday Brussels would unblock up to 137 billion euros ($148 billion) in aid for Poland that had been frozen over a democracy row with Warsaw.

Speaking in Warsaw, von der Leyen said the formal decision would be taken next week, adding that the pro-EU government of new Polish premier Donald Tusk had taken major strides to end the standoff over the rule of law.

The European Union blocked billions of euros in Covid-19 recovery funds to Poland under the previous nationalist government of the Law and Justice party, or PiS, accusing it of undermining the independence of judges.

Von der Leyen said as a result of reforms launched by the Tusk government and steps it had taken to restore the independence of the courts, the EU would next week decide “to free up” European funds for Poland worth “up to 137 billion euros.”

“These are momentous times in Poland for the promotion of democratic values,” she told reporters. “It is a clear roadmap for Poland.”

She was speaking alongside Tusk and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency.

On Tuesday, the Warsaw government unveiled a plan to roll back controversial reforms introduced by the PiS that brought prosecutors, judges and courts under the political control of the government.

‘Clear commitment’

“This is it. We’ve done it,” Tusk said on Friday. “It’s a real mountain of money that we will use wisely, and to reduce the tensions and troubles we are seeing today.”

He was referring in particular to protests by European farmers and a dispute between Warsaw and Kyiv about Ukrainian farm goods entering the Polish market.

European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said on Tuesday the Tusk government, which has only been in office since October, had shown a “clear commitment” to roll back the damage done by the previous administration.

In 2017, the Commission triggered Article 7 of the EU treaty against Poland.

This is a last resort procedure used in case of threats to the rule of law.

Article 7 — also triggered against Hungary in 2018 — can theoretically go as far as suspending a state’s rights to vote in meetings of EU governments.

Poland is hoping its judicial reform plan will lead to the Article 7 action formally reversed before European Parliament elections scheduled for June 6-9.

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Agence France-Presse