On Friday, the foreign ministers of France and Germany, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas, pushed Poland to follow rules of the European Union (EU) amid debate over the supremacy of EU law over the Polish constitution.
The ministers in a joint statement said, “We remind you that membership of the European Union goes hand in hand with a complete and unconditional adherence to common values and rules. It is incumbent on each member, and therefore of course on Poland, which occupies a vital place within the European Union, to respect these rules and values. This is not simply a moral commitment. It is also a legal commitment.”
Likewise, on Friday, French Europe Minister Clement Beaune expressed concern over Poland’s exit from the EU and said that this is an attack on the EU by Poland’s constitutional court, engineered by the Polish government.
Additionally, the European Commission on Thursday said that it would use all available measures to ensure the supremacy of EU law in Poland.
The comments come after Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal ruled last Thursday that some parts of EU law are incompatible with the Polish constitution, challenging the supremacy of the EU laws. The Tribunal initiated the review after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki filed a motion to challenge the European Court of Justice’s ruling in March. The European Court ruled that Poland’s new measure to appoint Supreme Court justices could violate EU law and threaten the country’s democracy. Furthermore, the European court ordered Poland’s government to shelve these regulations.
The Polish tribunal’s ruling led to widespread condemnation by politicians across Europe, as it undermines the legal pillar on which the 27- member states Union stands. Additionally, some EU leaders fear this could result in legal chaos in the bloc and pave the way for Poland’s exit from the bloc. To this end, Polish opposition leader Donald Tusk urged citizens to defend Poland’s EU membership in nationwide protests on Sunday.
Similarly, Jaroslaw Kurski, the first deputy-editor of the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, condemned Poland’s government, saying, “You will not push us out of the European Union! You will not deprive our children of their dreams and their hopes for the future. If you want to head East, then by all means proceed, but do not drag us with you.”
On the contrary, far-right leaders have called on all patriots to protect the state’s sovereignty by joining the counter-protest in Warsaw. Moreover, Hungary welcomed the Polish court ruling and asked the EU institutions to respect the sovereignty of members.
Germany and France Push Poland to Follow EU Rules Following Tribunal Ruling
The foreign ministers of France and Germany pushed Poland to follow the bloc's rules after Poland’s tribunal ruled that some parts of EU law are incompatible with the country’s constitution.
October 11, 2021
SOURCE: AP NEWS