Warsaw cries out for Blackmail.

The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, denounced, Tuesday, October 19, in Strasbourg, a "blackmail" of the EU towards his country on the primacy of the European law, whereas the plan of revival of Warsaw is frozen by Brussels.

The European Commission will act to defend the "common values" of the EU in Poland, warned its president, Ursula von der Leyen, without making an announcement against Warsaw.

"We will not allow our common values ​​to be endangered. The Commission will act," Von der Leyen told the European Parliament after the decision of the Polish Constitutional Court challenging the primacy of European law.

"Blackmail is becoming a habitual method

 "

For his part, the Polish Prime Minister, who had asked to come and speak in the hemicycle of Parliament, said "reject (r) this language of threats or coercion".

He engaged in a plea on the sovereignty of States vis-à-vis Brussels.

"Blackmail is becoming a habitual method in some member states, it is not the basis of democracy," criticized Mateusz Morawiecki in a speech of about thirty minutes acclaimed by his supporters.

Asked about the Polish recovery plan, the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, indicated on Tuesday that the European executive was awaiting "a clear message" from Warsaw on its judicial reforms.

Conflict

"We will continue to debate this plan. There must be both investments and reforms and these reforms relate to the independence of the judiciary, so we are waiting for a clear message on the matter. The analysis will continue, "he told AFP, arriving at a meeting of European ministers in Luxembourg. 

Poland has been in open conflict with Brussels for several years over controversial judicial reforms implemented by the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

But this conflict recently culminated with the historic judgment handed down on October 7 by the Polish Constitutional Court.

This court, close to the ruling party, has ruled certain articles of the EU treaties "incompatible" with the national constitution.

The European executive, as guardian of the treaties, is preparing its response.

Calling into question "the foundations of the European Union"

Ursula von der Leyen listed her options on Tuesday.

The Commission could launch a new infringement procedure against Poland, which could lead to a referral to the Court of Justice of the EU.

It also has at its disposal, since January, a tool to suspend or reduce the funds paid to a State that does not respect the principles of the rule of law.

The controversial justice reforms in Poland also led the Commission, in December 2017, to launch proceedings (Article 7 of the Treaty) against this country.

This procedure, which can in theory go as far as the suspension of the country's voting rights in the Council, has however stalled.

"I am deeply worried."

This unprecedented judgment "calls into question the foundations of the European Union", urged Ursula von der Leyen to MEPs, who are calling for a hard line against Warsaw.

With AFP

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