Poland’s National Public Prosecutor is going to war with the Netherlands

Share

Journalist covering law and politics for OKO.press. Previously journalist at Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita, Polska The Times, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

More

National Public Prosecutor Bogdan Święczkowski sent an order to the prosecutors to block European Arrest Warrants issued by the Netherlands. He did this in retaliation for the court in Amsterdam suspending the enforcement of an EAW from Poland in connection with the restriction of the independence of Polish courts



The National Public Prosecutor Bogdan Święczkowski sent the order to the district prosecutors in mid-October. They are to hand it over to their subordinated prosecution offices.

 

In the order, Świączkowski, a close associate of Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, orders the prosecutors to ‘conduct a thorough analysis of the European Arrest Warrants (EAW) issued by the Dutch authorities for the existence of obligatory grounds for refusing to fulfill them’.

 

Święczkowski has also ordered the public prosecutors to inform the National Public Prosecutor’s Office about all EAWs from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and requires them to report on the actions they are taking in these cases. In particular, the prosecutors need to assess the EAW in terms of the independence and impartiality of the Dutch judiciary.

 

“As the Netherlands does to Poland, so Poland does to the Netherlands”

In the letter sent to the regional public prosecutor’s offices, Święczkowski is not hiding the fact that his order is a retaliation for the decision of the court in Amsterdam, which suspended the execution of EAWs from Poland regarding the extradition of Polish citizens on 31 July 2020.

 

The court in Amsterdam suspended such cases because it referred questions for a preliminary ruling to the CJEU about an EAW regarding a Pole suspected of being a drug courier. The questions apply to whether people suspected of having committed crimes can be extradited to Poland under an EAW if in doubt about the independence of Polish courts. Because there are concerns about whether they can count on a fair trial.

 

Święczkowski believes the suspension of all EAWs from Poland by the Dutch court for this reason constitutes a breach of European law and may be a way of circumventing Article 7 of the treaty on European Union. This article refers to the breach of the values of the EU by a Member State and provides for the procedure of analysing the breach of these values. According to Święczkowski, the Netherlands would be able to suspend the consideration of a Polish EAW, but only after these procedures end and after Poland is found to have seriously breached EU values. Meanwhile, this has not happened. Therefore, he considers that the principle of the mutual recognition of judgments by EU Member States is still applicable.

 

Święczkowski reiterates that an EAW is based on ‘a high degree of trust in relations between Member States, which is manifested in the minimization of the grounds for refusal’. ‘In the situation that has arisen, given the failure of the authorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to respect the principle of mutual trust regarding matters related to EAWs issued by Polish courts, we need to proceed as specified in the introduction,’ Bogdan Święczkowski instructs the public prosecutors.

 

What are the public prosecutors to assess?

It arises from the National Prosecutor’s letter that the prosecutors are to investigate all premises that could constitute grounds for refusing to implement Dutch EAWs.

 

These are referred to in Article 607p, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Procedures Code: ‘The execution of a European warrant shall be refused if:

 

  • in the case of the jurisdiction of Polish criminal courts, the crime to which the European arrest warrant applies is subject to remission through an amnesty;
  • a final judgment has been issued with respect to the person being prosecuted in another state for the same deeds and, in the event of a conviction for the same deeds, the person being prosecuted is serving or has served a sentence or the sentence cannot be enforced according to the law of the state in which the conviction was made;
  • a final decision has been made to transfer the person being prosecuted to another European Union Member State;
  • the person to whom the European warrant applies is not criminally liable under Polish law for the deeds constituting the grounds of the European arrest warrant because of his age;
  • this would breach human and civil rights and freedoms;
  • the order is issued for a non-violent crime for political reasons’.

 

In turn, the second paragraph of this provision states that ‘if the European arrest warrant is issued with respect to the person being prosecuted, who is a Polish citizen, the warrant may be executed on condition that the deed to which the European arrest warrant applies was not committed in Poland or on a Polish ship or aircraft and would constitute a crime under the law of the Republic of Poland or would constitute a crime under the law of the Republic of Poland if committed in Poland, both at the time that it is committed and at the time of receipt of the European warrant.’

 

Święczkowski states that Article 607s, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Procedures Code needs to be applied, in particular: ‘A European arrest warrant issued for the purpose of enforcing a sentence of imprisonment or a measure involving the deprivation of freedom of the person being prosecuted, who is a Polish citizen or who is taking advantage of the right of asylum in Poland is not enforceable if Poland does not agree to surrender him’.

 

Furthermore, the National Public Prosecutor expects that the premises for refusal will be examined for whether the people being prosecuted by the Netherlands will be able to count on a trial there before an independent and impartial court.

 

How can Dutch EAWs be blocked?

It is not without reason that the National Public Prosecutor is ordering the assessment of the independence of Dutch courts, because the Regional Court in Warsaw recently refused to extradite a Dutch couple who fled to Poland with their child for this reason. They did so because their child was placed in a foster home in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, while refusing to execute the EAW, the court in Warsaw accused the Dutch judiciary of a lack of independence and a potential threat of euthanasia to the child if he were to return to his country. This judgment was also passed in retaliation for the suspension of Polish requests by the court in Amsterdam.

 

Prosecutors can fulfil Bogdan Święczkowski’s order, but they do not have to. However, there will be disciplinary cases for those who are unwilling to do so.

 

We asked one of the experienced prosecutors for a commentary:

‘The principle of reciprocity in recognizing court decisions and EAWs is not about retaliating. The examination of EAWs is not diplomacy that enables retaliatory steps to be taken. There are no reasons for undermining the independence of the Dutch courts. Święczkowski’s correspondence is rather an expression of a political game, a manifesto.

 

However, I would like to reiterate that it is not the public prosecutor who issues the judgment on the EAW, but the court. The prosecutor appears in such cases and can take a stance. But the decision rests with the court,’ the public prosecutor says.

 

This is confirmed by attorney Wojciech Wiza, whose law firm in Poznań represents clients in EAW cases. ‘Applications are sent from abroad to the prosecutor’s offices which have jurisdiction over the place where the person being prosecuted is staying. The public prosecutor then sends the application to the regional court with jurisdiction as a representative of the state issuing the EAW. He can also take a stance on this. So far, I have not witnessed the Polish prosecutor’s office blocking the transfer of the EAW to the court to date,’ attorney Wiza comments.

 

The EAW is mainly examined by Judge Dariusz Łubowski at the Regional Court in Warsaw. He has been adjudicating since 1993. He has been the head of the international crime section of the Regional Court in Warsaw since August 2018 and, since January 2019, he has also been the international crime and human rights coordinator at that court. He took on this function after the previous coordinating judge and head of the section moved to the Court of Appeal in Warsaw.

 

‘When the Judge was being appointed to this position, the president of the court took into account his outstanding knowledge and extensive experience in the international aspects of criminal law, as well as his fluency in foreign languages, including German, English, French and Russian,’ wrote the press office of Warsaw’s regional court in response to our questions. And indeed the judge has such experience. It was he who refused to extradite a couple from the Netherlands who had fled to Poland with their child. Or was this a retaliation against the Kingdom of the Netherlands or was he guided by a conservative view?

 

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw also requested a refusal to extradite the couple. And this is precisely what Święczkowski wants. Although the court issues the decision, the prosecutor’s office can boycott Dutch EAWs in retaliation.



Author


Journalist covering law and politics for OKO.press. Previously journalist at Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita, Polska The Times, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.


More

Published

October 25, 2020

Tags

Supreme CourtDisciplinary ChamberConstitutional TribunalPolandjudgesdisciplinary proceedingsrule of lawZbigniew ZiobroNational Council of the JudiciaryCourt of Justice of the EUEuropean Commissionjudicial independenceEuropean UnionMałgorzata ManowskaAndrzej DudaCourt of JusticeIgor TuleyaEuropean Court of Human Rightsdisciplinary systemMinister of JusticeJarosław KaczyńskiMateusz MorawieckiCJEUmuzzle lawNational Recovery PlanAdam BodnarCommissioner for Human RightsdemocracyWaldemar ŻurekPrzemysław Radzikcriminal lawpresidential electionselectionsKamil Zaradkiewiczdisciplinary commissionerPiotr Schabmedia freedomneo-judgeselections 2023Julia PrzyłębskajudiciaryFirst President of the Supreme Courtpreliminary rulingsSupreme Administrative CourtHungaryelections 2020K 3/21Dagmara Pawełczyk-WoickaNational Council for JudiciaryharassmentProsecutor GeneralprosecutorsŁukasz PiebiakMichał LasotaBeata MorawiecPaweł JuszczyszynCourt of Justice of the European UnionPrime MinisterPresidentConstitutionCOVID-19European Arrest WarrantMaciej NawackiCriminal ChamberRegional Court in KrakówRecovery FundExtraordinary Control and Public Affairs ChamberEU budgetfreedom of expressionprosecutiondisciplinary liability for judgesWojciech HermelińskiMarek SafjanMałgorzata GersdorfSejmcourtsMaciej Ferekfreedom of assemblyconditionalityLaw and JusticeNCJMinistry of JusticeJustice FundNational ProsecutorPiSStanisław PiotrowiczAleksander StepkowskiOSCEPresident of the Republic of PolandIustitiaTHEMISimmunityAnna DalkowskaNational Public ProsecutorCouncil of Europecriminal proceedingsStanisław Biernatconditionality mechanismWłodzimierz WróbelLabour and Social Security Chambercommission on Russian influence2017policeJustice Defence Committee – KOSFreedom HouseSupreme Court PresidentArticle 7Venice CommissionPM Mateusz MorawieckiNational Electoral CommissionJarosław WyrembakAndrzej Zollacting first president of the Supreme CourtOrdo IurisMay 10 2020 electionsPresident of PolandLGBTXero Flor w Polsce Sp. z o.o. v. PolandBroda and Bojara v PolandReczkowicz and Others v. Polandmedia independenceKrystian MarkiewiczSylwia Gregorczyk-AbramAmsterdam District CourtKrzysztof ParchimowiczMichał WawrykiewiczArticle 6 ECHREAWUrsula von der LeyenTVPmediaLex Super OmniaLech GarlickiEwa ŁętowskaDidier ReyndersStrategic Lawsuits Against Public ParticipationAndrzej StępkaPiotr GąciarekcorruptionP 7/20K 7/21Lex DudaNational Reconstruction PlanProfessional Liability ChambersuspensionparliamentJarosław DudziczChamber of Professional Liabilityelectoral codePiotr Prusinowskidemocratic backslidingdecommunizationLaw on the NCJrecommendationHuman Rights CommissionerCCBEThe Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europepublic opinion pollreportEuropean ParliamentZiobrointimidation of dissenterstransferretirement agePiebiak gatehuman rightsEuropean Association of Judges11 January March in WarsawcoronavirusC-791/19Piotr PszczółkowskiGeneral Assembly of the Supreme Court Judgeslex NGOcivil societyRussiaJarosław GowinLGBT ideology free zonescriminal codeSenateZuzanna Rudzińska-BluszczMarcin WarchołdefamationFree CourtsEwa WrzosekEU law primacyAdam TomczyńskiBelgiumNetherlandsBogdan Święczkowskijudcial independenceMaciej MiteraViktor OrbanOLAFNext Generation EUvetoabortionJózef IwulskiTeresa Dębowska-RomanowskaKazimierz DziałochaMirosław GranatAdam JamrózStefan JaworskiBiruta Lewaszkiewicz-PetrykowskaWojciech ŁączkowskiMarek MazurkiewiczAndrzej MączyńskiJanusz NiemcewiczMałgorzata Pyziak- SzafnickaStanisław RymarFerdynand RymarzAndrzej RzeplińskiJerzy StępieńPiotr TulejaSławomira Wronkowska-JaśkiewiczMirosław WyrzykowskiBohdan ZdziennickiMarek ZubikSLAPPOKO.pressDariusz ZawistowskiMichał LaskowskiMarek PietruszyńskiKrystyna PawłowiczMariusz MuszyńskiPaweł FilipekMaciej TaborowskiMarian BanaśSupreme Audit OfficeAdam SynakiewiczBelarusstate of emergencyKrakówXero Flor v. PolandAstradsson v IcelandK 6/21Civil ChamberJoanna Misztal-KoneckaPegasusMariusz KamińskisurveillanceCentral Anti-Corruption BureauJoanna Hetnarowicz-SikoraEdyta Barańskaright to fair trialUkraineKonrad WytrykowskiJakub IwaniecDariusz DrajewiczRafał Puchalskismear campaignmilestonesConstitutional Tribunal PresidentMarzanna Piekarska-Drążekelectoral processWojciech Maczugapublic medialexTuskcourt changeselections integrityelections fairnessabuse of state resourcesPATFoxpopulismequal treatmentfundamental rightsCT PresidentEUWhite Paperlustrationtransitional justice2018Nations in TransitCouncil of the EUStanisław ZabłockiLIBE CommitteeFrans TimmermansUS Department of StateSwieczkowskiadvocate generalpress releaseRights and Values ProgrammeC-619/18defamatory statementsWorld Justice Project awardWojciech SadurskijudgePechKochenovEvgeni TanchevFreedom in the WorldECJFrackowiakAmnesty Internationaltrans-Atlantic valuesLSOlawyersAct of 20 December 2019repressive actKoen LenaertsharrassmentAlina CzubieniakGerard BirgfellerEwa Maciejewskapostal votepostal vote billresolution of 23 January 2020Leon KieresPKWinfringment actionEU valuesENCJIsraelforeign agents lawOrganization of Security and Co-operation in EuropeFirst President of the Suprme CourtLGBT free zonesequalityChamber of Extraordinary Verificationhate crimeshate speechGrzęda v PolandŻurek v PolandSobczyńska and Others v PolandRafał Trzaskowskimedia lawPrzemysła RadzikElżbieta KarskaMarcin RomanowskiJacek CzaputowiczPrzemysław Czarneklegislative practiceENAZbigniew BoniekOmbudsmanKraśnikNorwayNorwegian fundsNorwegian Ministry of Foreign AffairsC-487/19Article 10 ECHRRegional Court in AmsterdamOpenbaar MinisterieAK judgmentSimpson judgmentForum Współpracy Sędziówpublic broadcastermutual trustLMIrelandIrena MajcherAmsterdamthe Regional Court in WarsawUnited NationsLeszek Mazurinterim measuresautocratizationMultiannual Financial Frameworkabortion rulingproteststhe NetherlandsDenmarkSwedenFinlandMariusz KrasońGermanyCelmerC354/20 PPUC412/20 PPUAusl 301 AR 104/19Karlsruheact on misdemeanoursCivil Service ActParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europemedia taxadvertising taxmediabezwyboruJacek KurskiKESMAIndex.huTelex.huJelenJózsef SzájerKlubrádióGazeta WyborczaPollitykaBrussels IRome IIArticle 2Forum shoppingtransparencyEuropean Economic and Social CommitteeSebastian KaletaC-156/21C-157/21Marek PiertuszyńskiNational Prosecutor’s OfficeBogdan ŚwiączkowskiDisicplinary ChamberTribunal of StateOlsztyn courtPrzemysła CzarnekEducation MinisterIpsosOlimpia Barańska-MałuszeHudocKonrad SzymańskiPiotr BogdanowiczPiotr Burasauthoritarian equilibriumArticle 258clientelismoligarchic systemEuropean Public Prosecutor's OfficePolish National FoundationLux VeritatisMałgorzata BednarekPiotr WawrzykTVNjournalistslexTVNPolish mediaRzeszówborderprimacyEU treatiesAgnieszka Niklas-BibikSłupsk Regional CourtMaciej RutkiewiczMirosław Wróblewskiright to protestSławomir JęksaWiktor JoachimkowskiRoman GiertychMichał WośMinistry of FinanceJacek SasinErnest BejdaThe First President of the Supreme CourtMaciej CzajkaMariusz JałoszewskiŁukasz RadkepolexitDolińska-Ficek and Ozimek v PolandPaulina Kieszkowska-KnapikMaria Ejchart-DuboisAgreement for the Rule of LawPorozumienie dla PraworządnościAct sanitising the judiciaryMarek AstCourt of Appeal in KrakówPutinismKaczyńskiPaulina AslanowiczJarosław MatrasMałgorzata Wąsek-Wiaderekct on the Protection of the Populatiolegislationlex WośRome StatuteInternational Criminal CourtAntykastaStanisław ZdunIrena BochniakKrystyna Morawa-FryźlewiczKatarzyna ChmuraGrzegorz FurmankiewiczMarek JaskulskiJoanna Kołodziej-MichałowiczEwa ŁąpińskaZbigniew ŁupinaPaweł StyrnaKasta/AntykastaAndrzej SkowronŁukasz BilińskiIvan MischenkoMonika FrąckowiakArkadiusz CichockiEmilia SzmydtTomasz SzmydtE-mail scandalDworczyk leaksMichał Dworczykmedia pluralism#RecoveryFilesrepairing the rule of lawBohdan BieniekMarcin KrajewskiMałgorzata Dobiecka-WoźniakChamber of Extraordinary Control and Public AffairsWiesław KozielewiczNational Recovery Plan Monitoring CommitteeGrzegorz PudaPiotr MazurekJerzy KwaśniewskiPetros Tovmasyancourt presidentsODIHRFull-Scale Election Observation MissionNGOKarolina MiklaszewskaRafał LisakMałgorzata FroncJędrzej Dessoulavy-ŚliwińskiSebastian MazurekElżbieta Jabłońska-MalikSzymon Szynkowski vel SękJoanna Scheuring-Wielgusinsulting religious feelingsoppositionAdam GendźwiłłDariusz Dończyktest of independenceTomasz KoszewskiJakub KwiecińskidiscriminationAct on the Supreme Courtelectoral commissionsEuropean Court of HuKrzysztof RączkaPoznańKoan LenaertsKarol WeitzKaspryszyn v PolandNCR&DNCBiRThe National Centre for Research and DevelopmentEuropean Anti-Fraud Office OLAFJustyna WydrzyńskaAgnieszka Brygidyr-DoroszJoanna KnobelCrimes of espionageextraordinary commissionZbigniew KapińskiAnna GłowackaCourt of Appeal in WarsawOsiatyński'a ArchiveUS State DepartmentAssessment Actenvironmentinvestmentstrategic investmentgag lawsuitslex RaczkowskiPiotr Raczkowskithe Spy ActdisinformationNational Broadcasting Councilelection fairnessDobrochna Bach-GoleckaRafał WojciechowskiAleksandra RutkowskaGeneral Court of the EUArkadiusz RadwanLech WałęsaWałęsa v. Polandright to an independent and impartial tribunal established by lawpilot-judgmentDonald Tusk governmentSLAPPscivil lawRadosław BaszukAction PlanJustice MinistryVěra JourováDonald Tuskjustice system reform