The rule of law mechanism may freeze EU transfers. Who is to blame? Two politicians in the government and him [SONDA¯]

The CJEU concluded last week that the conditionality mechanism (or “money for the rule of law”) is compatible with the EU treaties. Therefore, Poland will most likely not receive money from it, because it does not meet the conditions of the rule of law. Poland does not implement the CJEU judgment on the operation of the politicized Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court. The consequence may be the loss of hundreds of billions of zlotys.

Who is responsible for the possible freezing of EU funds?

This was the question asked by United Surveys. Most people, i.e. 24 percent appointed the president and deputy prime minister Jarosław Kaczyński. The second place was taken by the head of Solidarna Polska and the Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Ziobro, who was indicated by 21.6 percent. respondents.

The third most frequently indicated politician is … (20.7%), although his party is not in power. This is probably the result of the intense propaganda conducted in the state media that everything that goes wrong in Poland is “Tusk’s fault”. Let us recall that the Civic Coalition abstained during the vote on the KPO, believing that the situation could be used to put pressure on the rule of the United Right, and Tusk himself

The leader of the PO, as responsible for freezing EU money, was ahead of – which may be surprising – Mateusz Morawiecki (10.4%) and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (9.1%). In addition, 9.7 percent. of people indicated the answer I don’t know / It’s hard to say, and 4.3% that none of the above.

More information from the country on

Almost 60 percent of the respondents believe that the freezing of Eurofunds is a real threat. Of which 22 percent. assessed the probability as very high, and 37.8 percent. as rather high. 19.8 percent decided that the chances of suspending EU transfers are rather low, and 3.3 percent. that very low. Every tenth respondent claims that there is no such risk. 7.2 percent decided not to know.

The survey was conducted on a group of 1000 people using the CATI method (computer-assisted telephone interview).

How much can Poland lose?

From the Reconstruction Fund itself, which was established to reduce the severe economic effects after the COVID-19 outbreak, Poland may lose EUR 58 billion, i.e. over PLN 260 billion.

Within the above amount, approximately EUR 23.9 billion are non-returnable subsidies. Over EUR 34.2 billion are low-interest loans. Funds from the KPO are to be used, among others, by to reform the labor market, support for housing, change financing, or introduce a new type of enterprise in Poland.

However, the losses can be even greater. The government informed that Poland would receive PLN 770 billion (EUR 171 billion) of EU funds, which included KPO funds and around 113 billion from the long-term EU fund for 2021-2027.

The ruling of the CJEU on the rule of law, which is unfavorable for Poland, may also pose a threat to funds from the EU budget – economists Rafał Benecki and Leszek Kąsek.