The European Commission went to emergency measures, deciding to apply a "legal atomic bomb" against the government in Warsaw. However, this step, the columnist for Die Welt, Hannelore Krolli, is sure, may entail serious risks for Europe.
"For the first time in its history, the European Commission decided to use (. ) heavy artillery against one of its members, "reads the article.
The point is that, from the point of view of the European Commission, Poland is destroying the independence of its judicial system, and Brussels demands from the EU countries to vote for the start of the sanctions procedure against Warsaw. "The most negative scenario foresees the deprivation of Poland's voting rights (in the EU Council)," the journalist explains..
"Brussels has long delayed, now the European Commission sees no alternative to such a measure," notes the author of the article. However, immediately after the announcement of the decision, Vice-President of the European Commission Francois Timmermans was asked by a journalist from Eastern Europe whether Brussels takes into account the fact how counterproductive this "unprecedented decision" will be and how much it will spur an already growing Euroscope wave.
"Timmermans and his colleagues, of course, are aware of all the risks associated with the decision taken. The European Commission for two years tried to dissuade Warsaw from re-designing the judicial system, "the author of the publication.
However, the national-conservative ruling party "Law and Justice", from the point of view of Brussels, with the help of judicial reform, continues to emasculate the legal statehood and the principle of separation of branches of power. In this connection (. ) and it was decided to launch the sanction procedure in the order of the seventh article of the EU Treaty, "explains Krolli.
"Brussels considered that it was time to start acting in order to maintain confidence in the European Union based on common values ??and rule of law. It is unlikely and, most likely, it is ruled out that the matter will really come to the introduction of the most serious sanctions. The implementation of this mechanism is possible only after a unanimous decision, and Hungary has already announced that it will stand on the side of Warsaw, "the journalist notes..
The Polish Foreign Ministry has subjected Brussels' decision to harsh criticism, pointing to its political, rather than legal, nature,.
"However, for the European Commission it was important to take such a decisive step and transfer responsibility to EU member states. Now the European capitals will be forced to openly declare their position, even if many of them are not at all delighted with this ".
"The problem is," the author continues, "that the threat of harsh sanctions against Poland sounds at a time when tension between East and West is greater than ever (. The right-wing government of Poland successfully enshrined the image of the enemy of Poland behind the European Union; The West is on the verge of final collapse and morally rotten - such is the narrative of the government ".
Perhaps, the author believes, the EU has been thinking too long and is unlikely to be able to achieve something in the struggle for legal statehood in Poland. "The country has adopted 13 laws allowing the policy of direct intervention in the activities of all courts and prosecutors".
However, according to Brussels, the risk of inaction was still higher. "It is impossible to foresee the consequences of this step. Who knows, maybe Poland will eventually come out of the EU - even if, according to polls, the country's population does not want this, "the author writes in conclusion.