The European Commission, EU, launched legal action against Poland over its judicial reforms on Monday, a day before several Supreme Court judges are expected to face early retirement under new laws.

The commission has been at loggerheads with Warsaw for two-and-a-half years over concerns that judicial reforms introduced by the national-conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) place the judiciary under excessive political influence and undermine European values.

Among other things, the reforms lower the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 70 to 65, a measure that could force 27 of Poland’s 72 Supreme Court judges to retire on July 3, including the court’s first president who would have her six-year mandate cut short.

In December, the commission, the European Union’s executive, launched an unprecedented formal warning process against Poland, but said on Monday that its concerns had “not been satisfactorily addressed.”

“Given the lack of progress and the imminent implementation of the new retirement regime for Supreme Court judges, the commission decided today to launch the infringement procedure as a matter of urgency,” commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said.

The commission issued a letter of formal notice on Monday, however, Warsaw now has one month to respond.

If Poland fails to bring its rules in line with EU law, the commission could escalate the procedure by referring the issue to the European Court of Justice, a move that can lead to the imposition of hefty fines.

Meanwhile, the commission said it “stands ready” to continue the ongoing rule of law dialogue with Poland. (NAN)

– Jul. 2, 2018 @ 13:39 GMT |