Poland yesterday accused the European Commission of attempting to pressure its new right-wing government regarding a rule-of-law dispute triggered by controversial media and justice reforms.
The legal manoeuvres have prompted escalating warnings from the European Commission that it could intervene, including two letters from its vice president, Frans Timmermans, asking Warsaw for information.
Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said yesterday he was “astonished” by Timmermans’ request, slamming it as “an attempt to exert pressure upon the democratically elected” parliament and government of a sovereign state.
“You had the possibility to receive from me the competent information regarding this issue ... using routine working contacts ... I deplore the fact that you decided not to do so.
“Thus, I first found out about your unjustified accusations and unfair conclusions from the media.”
Relations between Brussels and Warsaw have been strained since the Law and Justice party (PiS), led by the eurosceptic Jaroslaw Kaczynski, returned to power in Poland in October after eight years in opposition.
Tens of thousands of Poles have since taken to the streets to protest the party’s moves to enact legislation giving it control over Poland’s top court and public broadcasters.
In an unprecedented move, the Commission is set to debate today the state of rule of law in the EU member, which could lead to potentially punitive measures.
Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said yesterday she will join President Andrzej Duda, a close ally, at a January 18 debate on the issue in the European Parliament.
“It’s clear to me that the prime minister represents the country any time Poland’s reputation needs protection,” she told reporters in Warsaw.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker denied last week that Brussels was unfairly targeting Poland over its government’s controversial changes.
“Let’s not overdramatise. It’s an important issue but we have to have friendly and good relations with Poland,” he said. “Our approach is very constructive - we are not bashing Poland.”

German conservative renews criticism of new Polish ruling party

The European Union has an obligation to look into recent steps by the Polish government to assert control over state media and the constitutional court, a senior German lawmaker said yesterday, describing the measures as a possible threat to democracy.
Gunther Krichbaum, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party and chairman of the European affairs committee in parliament, sharply criticised the course of the Polish government and rejected as ridiculous complaints by Warsaw that other countries were meddling in internal matters.
His comments came after Poland summoned the German ambassador on Monday in protest at critical comments from other members of Merkel’s party, suggesting the EU should consider sanctions against Warsaw.
“Poles are not just citizens of Poland but citizens of the EU and protecting their rights is one of the most important tasks of the European Commission,” Krichbaum told Reuters, saying the EU executive had a “damned duty” to investigate the case.
“When the freedom of the media is restricted, freedom of thought and democracy are next in line,” he added.
One of Krichbaum’s conservative colleagues, Norbert Roettgen, told Reuters that Europe could ill afford to open a new front with Poland at a time when it is struggling with a host of other challenges, from the refugee crisis to the threat of Britain leaving the European Union.
“At a time when the EU is already beset with major internal problems and is being tested from the outside like never before, accusations, escalation, threats and lecturing are not helpful,” said Roettgen, a conservative who chairs the foreign affairs committee in the German lower house of parliament.
He said it was misplaced to discuss EU sanctions against Poland before officials in Brussels had talked with the new government in Warsaw.