Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law, that they should not take arbitrary decisions and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

In view of possible democratic backsliding in Poland and in particular due to the threat to judicial independence, the European Commission initiated in December 2017 an Article 7 procedure to address a possible risk of breach of EU common values.

The Parliament has ever since repeatedly asked the Council to act and in September 2020 warned about the continuous deterioration of the situation in the country, pointing to “overwhelming evidence” of those breaches. Following the October 2021 ruling by the Polish Constitutional, the Polish government’s challenge of the established primacy of EU law was added to Parliament’s long list of concerns.

These include the powers to revise the constitution taken on by the Polish parliament since 2015, expedited legislative procedures and electoral law changes; the broad changes to the country’s judiciary, including appointments and disciplinary procedures; the situation of freedom of expression, media freedom and pluralism; and the criminalisation of sexual education and the de facto ban on abortion.

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

EU - Poland (T)

9th parliamentary term

Rule of law in Poland

EP Plenary Session - Plans to undermine further fundamental rights in Poland, in particular regarding the standards of the European Convention of Human Rights and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

EP Plenary session - The first anniversary of the de facto abortion ban in Poland

EP Plenary session - The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law

EP Plenary session - Media freedom and further deterioration of the Rule of law in Poland

Infoclip: Rule of law - Poland

The Electoral Law and the Rule of Law in Poland: extracts from the debate

The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland: Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland: one round of political group speakers

The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland: opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Voting session on The rule of law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF)

The rule of law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan: closing statements by Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vicepresident of the European Commission and by Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU, French Minister of State for Development

The rule of law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF): MEPs debate (part 2/2)

EP Plenary session - Key debate - Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary

Press point by the Chairs, LIBE and AFCO delegations to Poland, Warsaw

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

LIBE - FEMM Joint meeting

FEMM

The rule of law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF): one round Political group leaders

The rule of law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF): opening statements by Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU, French Minister of State for Development and by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission

The Rule of Law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF): extracts from the debate

Voting session (part 2)

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary: closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary: one round of political group speakers

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary: opening statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary: extracts from the debate

Ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary: extracts from the debate and statements by the rapporteurs

Infoclip: Infoclip: Warsaw (Poland) - city views

EP LIBE and AFCO delegations to Poland, Warsaw: meeting with Judges and statements by co-chairs of the delegation

Press point by the Chairs of the EP LIBE and AFCO delegations to Poland, Warsaw

EP LIBE and AFCO delegations to Poland, Warsaw: meeting with representatives of the National Council for the Judiciary, meeting with Senate members

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