Media: That’s why von der Leyen is releasing “a whole mountain of money” for Poland. The date is not accidental

German newspapers inform about the planned end of the EU rule of law procedure towards Poland. “The EU rewards the new Polish government for its new pro-European course,” writes the German daily “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” (SZ) on Tuesday (May 7, 2024). According to reports, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Monday, May 6, that “Brussels wants to end the procedure against Warsaw that has been ongoing for years due to violations of the rule of law.” According to von der Leyen, “a new chapter begins for Poland.”

The EC decided that there is no longer a risk of violating the rule of law in Poland, therefore it intends to close the procedure under Article 7 of the EU Treaty, initiated in 2017 due to the restriction of the independence of judges and prosecutors by “the then ruling right-wing populist PiS party”, reports “SZ”. . It also reminds us of the recent release of funds for Poland from the Reconstruction Fund.

The European Commission treats the new Polish government more leniently. Hungary will be left alone

“If EU governments agree to end the proceedings against Poland, Hungary will remain the only country against which such a procedure is pending,” notes Hubert Wetzel in “SZ”. He adds that until PiS was defeated in Poland, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had an ally in Warsaw who could have protected him from too severe penalties for violating the rule of law.

“Unlike Poland, there is currently no change of government in Hungary that could lead to a correction of the course. This may also be the reason why the European Commission treats the new Polish government much more leniently than the Hungarian one: Brussels wants to show Poles that voting for a pro-European government literally pays off, both politically and financially,” adds the German daily.

Procedure under Art. 7. The timing of the EC decision on the rule of law in Poland is not accidental

“This is why von der Leyen is releasing frozen funds – ‘a whole mountain of money’ as (Donald) Tusk rightly and happily said – even though some of the laws intended to guarantee the rule of law in Poland in the future have not yet been passed by parliament. The fact that the decision to The official end of the Article 7 procedure was announced in Brussels just a few weeks before the European elections is not a coincidence,” adds “Sueddeutsche Zeitung”.

In the case of Budapest, the EC demands that all reforms necessary to unlock the funds should not only be announced, but actually adopted and implemented. “In Hungary, this unequal treatment is criticized and seen as evidence that the European Commission is intimidating the right-wing government for political reasons,” notes “SZ”.

Presidential blockade

“Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” also points out that ending the procedure against Poland “is not an obvious matter” because the new government has announced and initiated reforms, but has not carried them out yet. “Legal changes require the consent of President Andrzej Duda, who supported the destruction of the judicial system by the previous PiS government,” writes “FAZ.” “With Monday’s decision, the Commission wants to prevent Duda from having the right to veto in this matter,” the newspaper adds. He quotes an anonymous EC official who emphasizes that there is no reason to doubt the will of the new Polish government to reform.

The regional daily “Rheinische Post” writes that mainly due to the “blocking attitude” of President Andrzej Duda, the record of the new Polish government when it comes to legislative changes is “so-so”. Financially, unlocking EU funds for Poland is very helpful, “but from a legal point of view, Poland is still a mess almost half a year after the democratic turn,” says “Rheinische Post.”