Poland loses legal battle over EU fines, must pay €320 million

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has rejected Poland's lawsuit challenging a fine imposed for failing to align its legislation with EU regulations and has ordered the country to pay more than €320 million, according to a press release issued on February 5.

"The Court of Justice of the EU confirms that Poland must pay €320,200,000 as fines imposed by the court," the statement reads, as per Caliber.Az.

Poland had been accused by the European Commission (EC) of violating EU law, prompting the case before the CJEU. The Polish government sought to have the fines for the years 2022-2023 either annulled or reduced, arguing that the penalties were excessive. However, the ruling confirmed that Poland remains obligated to pay the full amount.

A day earlier, on February 4, Poland’s Interior Minister Tomasz Semoniak reiterated the country's opposition to the EU migration pact. He stated that Poland would refuse to pay EU fines for rejecting migrant quotas, emphasizing that the country does not intend to accept migrants. Semoniak also linked Poland's crime rate to the influx of foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, Polish Defenсe Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz recently called on the EU to increase weapons procurement to support the presence of US troops in Europe.

He stressed that Warsaw is fulfilling all the requirements set by former US President Donald Trump, including boosting defence spending and fostering economic ties with American businesses.

In a related case, the EU court in Luxembourg ruled in June 2024 that Hungary must pay a €200 million fine and daily penalties for refusing to comply with previous court rulings regarding EU-wide migrant reception policies.

The court emphasized that failure to uphold common EU policies constitutes an "unprecedented and extremely serious violation" of EU law.

By Tamilla Hasanova