Poland is getting closer to receiving EU funds from National Reconstruction Plan. Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller said in public television news channel TVP Info.
Securing the funds from the National Recovery Plan (KPO) is contingent on the European Union accepting an agreement to liquidate the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court, a project spearheaded by the Polish president.
When asked if the European Commission would not create a new excuse not to pay the funds to Poland after the law is passed, he said that “there are radicals in the EU who want to find disagreement in this agreement in the future,” but he was certain that on this level, regarding the KPO, an understanding was reached and “enacting the law that is currently debated in the Sejm will mean a payment of the funds”.
Müller disclosed that the European Commission expressed its willingness to “precisely write down certain things,” and for many months the commission “has been trying to add things that we did not agree to.”
“This is a national competence, so we agreed only to what was in the project of the president,” pointed out Müller.
The commission is yet to officially accept the KPO submitted by the Polish Government over a year ago. This document specifies how the funds from the EU’s Reconstruction Fund will be spent. In late October 2021, the head of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, set a condition that the Polish KPO must include government’s obligation to liquidate the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court.
In early February 2022, President Andrzej Duda sent a draft bill of amendments to the Supreme Court bill to the Polish parliament. It entailed the liquidation of the Disciplinary Chamber and the introduction of a Professional Responsibility Chamber.
On May 11, Commission Spokeswoman Veerle Nuyts indicated that Polish KPO must include obligations to liquidate the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court, reform the disciplinary system and reinstate judges “illegally dismissed from their positions.”
“We have worked with Poland on all three points and are satisfied with the results. We are now waiting for confirmation from Poland,” said Nuyts.
On Thursday, the Justice and Human Rights Committee of the Polish parliament will continue works on the presidential project for the Supreme Court law that will include liquidation of the Disciplinary Chamber.
