EU launches legal action against Poland over new Russian influence law
WORLD 09 June 2023 - 13:30
The European Union on June 8 launched legal action against member country Poland over a contentious new law that the nationalist government claims is meant to combat Russian influence but which critics say could be used to persecute opposition politicians.
The European Commission said it believes that the new law “unduly interferes with the democratic process,” and that it “violates the principle of democracy,” and “rights to effective judicial protection.” The EU’s executive branch supervises respect of the bloc’s laws, AP reports.
The law was passed in May, ahead of expected general elections in autumn, and allows for the creation of a committee to investigate Russian influence in Poland. Critics argue that it would have unconstitutional powers, including the capacity to exclude officials from public life for a decade.
It appears to have galvanized public support for the opposition. Over the weekend, around 500,000 people took part in a huge anti-government protest, according to organizers. Citizens travelled from across the country to voice their anger at officials who they say have eroded democratic norms and created fears that the nation is following Hungary and Türkiye down the path to autocracy.
The protest was led by the main opposition leader, Donald Tusk, a former top EU official. It was possibly the largest demonstration in decades in Poland, although state television said there were no more than 150,000 people. The broadcaster, TVP, was accused of sorely underestimating the turnout.
The march was held on the anniversary of a crucial moment in Poland’s history, the partly free election on June 4, 1989, which paved the way for the end of communist rule. It took place about five months before the elections, in which the ruling Law and Justice party is fighting for a third term.
As a first step in its legal action, the EU Commission has sent the government in Warsaw a “letter of formal notice” outlining its grievances. Poland has 21 days to respond to the letter, and after more exchanges, the government could face hefty fines if it fails to comply.
Brussels is concerned that the law contains a broad and unspecified definition of “Russian influence” and “activities.” It considers that the law “violates the principles of legality and non-retroactivity,” because it could exclude officials from office for a decade for behaviour that was legal in the past.
European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said the institution had set unusually tight deadlines for Poland to reply - Brussels often allows two months in such cases - due to the impact the law might have on Poland’s general election, likely to be held by October.
The commission, she told reporters, was working “under the sense of urgency because we believe that this law is really a very serious blow to democratic processes, and to the fairness of the elections.”
The move comes just two days after the EU’s top court, the European Court of Justice, confirmed that Poland has refused to comply with the bloc’s rules on judicial independence. The government has already been fined more than 500 million euros ($535 million) over that case but so far refuses to pay.
On June 7, Poland’s minister for EU affairs, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, said that the government would “provide legal and factual arguments in this case after getting acquainted with the doubts of the European Commission.”
“Poland, as the largest country neighbouring Russia, has not only the full right but also the obligation to investigate these influences,” he said, according to state news agency PAP. “We would like the decisions made in this matter not to be based on media hype, but on facts, and we will present these facts.”
Caliber.Az
1
|
Triumph of sovereignty: Azerbaijan's quiet victory in the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers Has & Verdiyan on Caliber.Az
20 April 2024 - 16:30
|
2
|
Unveiling Armenia’s motives behind lawsuits at The Hague From politics to policy
20 April 2024 - 12:35
|
3
|
Azerbaijan's diplomatic masterstroke: Return of occupied villages marks strategic achievement New geopolitical reality
21 April 2024 - 11:43
|
4
|
Early Russian withdrawal from Karabakh: how has Azerbaijan’s ‘calculated risk’ strategy paid off? Contemplations with Orkhan Amashov
21 April 2024 - 10:03
|
5
|
Armenia returns four villages to Azerbaijan, paving the way for peace in the South Caucasus Landmark accord
23 April 2024 - 09:14
|
Polish opposition party calls for country to host nuclear weapons
23 April 2024 - 20:59
COP29 to create great opportunities for Azerbaijan – ex-envoy
23 April 2024 - 20:50
Azerbaijan invites Norwegian premier to COP29
23 April 2024 - 20:38
Armenia against presence of Russian peacekeepers
23 April 2024 - 20:28
Ex-US envoy assesses Baku-Yerevan normalization process
23 April 2024 - 20:23
We do not cross red lines - Azerbaijani president
23 April 2024 - 20:17
Raisi raps US crackdown on students in pro-Palestine rallies
23 April 2024 - 20:10
Azerbaijani president on why nation’s land borders remain closed
23 April 2024 - 20:03
Iran calls on European Union to sanction Israel
23 April 2024 - 19:53
Azerbaijan, Czechia explore opportunities for cooperation within COP29
23 April 2024 - 19:45
Armenian Parliament rejects opposition's draft on border delimitation with Azerbaijan
23 April 2024 - 19:34
Azerbaijani top diplomat discusses foreign policy priorities in Prague
23 April 2024 - 19:26
Armenia was approached by the UK over Rwanda-style deal, officials say
23 April 2024 - 19:14
US delegation visits ANAMA
PHOTO23 April 2024 - 19:05
Ukraine holds its breath as US set to approve $60bn of military aid
Our artillery is starving23 April 2024 - 18:57
Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and China up 44 percent
23 April 2024 - 18:49
Türkiye, Iraq sign 26 agreements
23 April 2024 - 18:40
Media: Iran’s president condemns US crackdown on pro-Palestine students
23 April 2024 - 18:21
Ukraine media: Russian forces using chemical weapons to storm Ocheretyne, situation "difficult"
23 April 2024 - 18:03
UN rights chief "horrified" by mass grave reports at Gaza hospitals
23 April 2024 - 17:42
President Aliyev: "Now, we have a common understanding of how the peace agreement should look like"
LIVE/UPDATED23 April 2024 - 17:37
Lebanon's Hezbollah launches deepest attack into Israel since Gaza war
23 April 2024 - 17:29
French unions denounce Olympics volunteering as “disguised employment”
No pay, no Olympics23 April 2024 - 17:11
Gaza Strip death toll surpasses 34,000
23 April 2024 - 16:52
Azerbaijani FM, Czech PM discuss strategic partnership, regional post-conflict situation
23 April 2024 - 16:51
Historic moment: first border pillar established between Azerbaijan and Armenia
23 April 2024 - 16:33
Türkiye-Iraq diplomatic thaw and regional integration
Ambitious vision23 April 2024 - 16:16
Armenian diplomat walks out after failed attempt to exclude Western Azerbaijan Community rep from OSCE event
23 April 2024 - 16:16
Russian army to receive S-500 systems for first time
23 April 2024 - 16:00
Pro-Armenian senator Menendez's corruption trial postponed to mid-May
23 April 2024 - 15:46
Erdogan urges Armenia to embrace realities to normalise relations
23 April 2024 - 15:31
Azerbaijan boosts energy infrastructure for North-South corridor
Power bridge connects Baku, Moscow, Tehran23 April 2024 - 15:17
Israel's military strikes northern Gaza in heaviest shelling in weeks
23 April 2024 - 15:14
Turkish army destroys dozens of terrorists
VIDEO23 April 2024 - 14:59
Narendra Modi accused of stirring tensions as voting in India continues
23 April 2024 - 14:41
Azerbaijani deputy FM exposes Armenia's use of fake social media accounts
Passing them off as Azerbaijani ones23 April 2024 - 14:27
Azerbaijani, Czech foreign ministers mull relations
23 April 2024 - 14:22
Armenia, Azerbaijan start border delimitation in western section of border
23 April 2024 - 14:03
Azerbaijani tank units personnel compete to enhance combat skills
23 April 2024 - 13:55
Armenia's claim falls outside ICJ jurisdiction – Azerbaijani official
23 April 2024 - 13:48