According to Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, it is not Poland that is breaking the treaties but the European Commission. Minister for European Affairs Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk is calm: the ruling largely applies to ‘outdated matters’. Besides, the minister ‘does not see them in the context of the dialogue with the EC on the NRRP’.

The police are harassing people taking part in protests that are dangerous to the authorities. But for the time being, for example, demonstration in defence of the rights of those thrown out at the border into the forest posts little risk. Because public opinion is on the side of the ruling party. Things were different in the case of the women’s strike.

Mateusz Morawiecki’s government will not publicize who exactly will receive money from the EU Recovery Fund. EU regulations enable it to do this, as they do not prevent embezzlement. In Poland’s case, this applies to more than 164 billion zlotys

If you are a Polish judge and you intend to apply European standards on judicial independence, think twice. You are facing suspension, as well as disciplinary and criminal proceedings. Either the end of your career or, at best, a long and unpleasant break. This is the situation in Poland, a European Union Member State, at the dawn of the 21st century.

The selectivity in complying with ECtHR judgments was dressed up to appear as the checking of the constitutionality of the provisions of an international convention.  This is why the operative part of the judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal states that Article 6 of the ECHR is unconstitutional, which in itself is outrageous. 

PiS claims there are fewer attacks on the EU and Brussels, but this is only ostensible peace. The propaganda of the authorities targeted at the EU is sending the message: since there is a war, let us rule without restrictions.

The European Commission is to decide whether to unfreeze billions for Poland from the EU’s Reconstruction Fund. It should not ‘buy’ President Duda’s or the Law and Justice party’s (PiS’s) offer. It needs to demand the full restoration of the rule of law. Otherwise, it will condemn the courts to ultimate destruction, reward ‘sly judges’ and antagonise the judicial community.

A group of PiS MPs have submitted a bill to the Sejm which they claim will implement the CJEU ruling and unlock billions of euros for Poland. However, PiS does not want to liquidate the Disciplinary Chamber, but only take away its disciplinary cases regarding judges. PiS’s bill strikes at Duda’s initiative.

The Disciplinary Commissioner will be able to prosecute a judge who interprets that the Catholic Church is liable for the crime of paedophilia of its subordinates.  And this is just one of the possible dangers contained in the presidential bill.

This year will be crucial for Poland’s place in the EU. The most important decisions will be made in Warsaw. They will determine the parameters of not only Poland’s policy in the EU, but also its national policy for a long time. The dispute over integration will become its inseparable dimension.