‚The European Commission has approved a long-delayed Covid recovery plan for Poland, overriding concerns that Warsaw is making cosmetic changes to its heavily criticised legal system to unlock EU cash.’

‚The commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, is expected to sign the agreement in Warsaw on Thursday, although Poland will have to initiate further judicial reforms to access €35.4bn (£30bn) in recovery grants and loans.’

‚The decision marks a significant moment in the six-year battle for independent courts in Poland, while other disputes remain open.’

‚In a statement, Von der Leyen said the Polish plan would aid the decarbonisation of its economy, boost energy independence and improve the country’s investment climate.’

“The approval of this plan is linked to clear commitments by Poland on the independence of the judiciary, which will need to be fulfilled before any actual payment can be made,” she said.

‚Poland’s Covid recovery plan has been held up for months because its rightwing nationalist government had refused to loosen control over the judicial system, raising a red flag on changes to the rule of law.’

‚Last October, Von der Leyen set three conditions for releasing the funds: dismantling a disciplinary chamber for judges within Poland’s supreme court; changing the judicial disciplinary system; and reinstating judges suspended under current rules.’

‚The Polish lower house, the Sejm, last week voted to strike down the disciplinary chamber of the supreme court, a move Warsaw hopes will unlock the funds. Legal experts and opposition parties say the law does not go far enough.’

‚The bill “contains cosmetic changes … and does not satisfy the expectations formulated in October 2021 by the [commission]”, stated an open letter to Von der Leyen this week, signed by 11 legal and human rights groups, including the Polish Judges Association.’

Text comes from The Guardian website 

Full article: The Guardian: ‚EU approves Poland Covid recovery fund despite judicial concern’