Poland's rightwing Prime Minister Beata Szydlo vowed Friday that Warsaw would never bow to any EU ultimatum as her government pushed through a parliamentary resolution accusing Brussels of violating the country's sovereignty.
Szydlo also charged that some members of the European Commission were trying to "destroy" the 28-member bloc, the latest broadside in a fiery dispute between Poland and Brussels.
Poland is angry about a Commission deadline for Warsaw to reverse a controversial overhaul of the country's top court that has raised concerns about the rule of law, as well as EU demands for member states to take in refugees.
The resolution adopted after a stormy debate in parliament blasts EU "attempts to impose decisions on Poland about migrants arriving in Europe".
"These decisions have no basis in European law, they violate the sovereignty of our state as well as European values", the resolution said, insisting that "citizens' rights and freedoms are not at risk".
It was pushed through by Szydlo's Law and Justice party (PiS) just five weeks ahead of a referendum on whether Britain will stay in the EU in the greatest challenge to the bloc's unity since its inception.
Poland's rejection of refugees under an EU-wide plan to tackle Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II has also chilled ties with Brussels.
Szydlo dismissed the May 23 Commission deadline for Warsaw to make "significant progress" on rolling back legislation adopted in December that has paralysed the constitutional court by modifying its decision-making rules.
"Poland will never succumb to any ultimatum," she said, adding: "There are some in the European Commission... who want to destroy the European Union rather than see it develop."
- 'Burning bridges' -
The EU's executive arm in January launched an unprecedented probe to see if the changes to the constitutional court -- seen by critics as endangering its independence -- violated EU democracy rules and merited punitive measures.
Commission vice president Frans Timmermans has been empowered to adopt an "opinion" on the state of the rule of law if there is no action from Warsaw by Monday.
If Warsaw fails to address the issues raised, it could eventually face a suspension of voting rights in the European council of ministers, the EU's most important decision-making body.
However, Poland's regional ally Hungary is likely to torpedo any possible sanctions, which would require the unanimous approval of all 28 EU members.
Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski revealed Friday in Brussels that Timmermans had agreed to "give Poland time" to implement "significant measures" proposed by Szydlo during a Tuesday telephone call.
In Friday's parliamentary debate, leaders of Poland's liberal opposition Civic Platform blasted Szydlo for "desecrating the constitution" and "burning more bridges with Europe".
An MP from the conservative Polish Peasants' Party went so far as to charge that the actions of her administration risked "civil war".
Since taking office in November, the PiS government has pushed through several pieces of controversial legislation, including strengthening state control over public broadcasters and seeking to tighten already limited access to abortions.
Earlier this month, around a quarter of a million Poles marched to defend their country's place in the European Union and protest against the PiS government's dismantling of democratic checks and balances.
Poland’s rightwing Prime Minister Beata Szydlo vowed Friday that Warsaw would never bow to any EU ultimatum as her government pushed through a parliamentary resolution accusing Brussels of violating the country’s sovereignty.
Szydlo also charged that some members of the European Commission were trying to “destroy” the 28-member bloc, the latest broadside in a fiery dispute between Poland and Brussels.
Poland is angry about a Commission deadline for Warsaw to reverse a controversial overhaul of the country’s top court that has raised concerns about the rule of law, as well as EU demands for member states to take in refugees.
The resolution adopted after a stormy debate in parliament blasts EU “attempts to impose decisions on Poland about migrants arriving in Europe”.
“These decisions have no basis in European law, they violate the sovereignty of our state as well as European values”, the resolution said, insisting that “citizens’ rights and freedoms are not at risk”.
It was pushed through by Szydlo’s Law and Justice party (PiS) just five weeks ahead of a referendum on whether Britain will stay in the EU in the greatest challenge to the bloc’s unity since its inception.
Poland’s rejection of refugees under an EU-wide plan to tackle Europe’s worst migrant crisis since World War II has also chilled ties with Brussels.
Szydlo dismissed the May 23 Commission deadline for Warsaw to make “significant progress” on rolling back legislation adopted in December that has paralysed the constitutional court by modifying its decision-making rules.
“Poland will never succumb to any ultimatum,” she said, adding: “There are some in the European Commission… who want to destroy the European Union rather than see it develop.”
– ‘Burning bridges’ –
The EU’s executive arm in January launched an unprecedented probe to see if the changes to the constitutional court — seen by critics as endangering its independence — violated EU democracy rules and merited punitive measures.
Commission vice president Frans Timmermans has been empowered to adopt an “opinion” on the state of the rule of law if there is no action from Warsaw by Monday.
If Warsaw fails to address the issues raised, it could eventually face a suspension of voting rights in the European council of ministers, the EU’s most important decision-making body.
However, Poland’s regional ally Hungary is likely to torpedo any possible sanctions, which would require the unanimous approval of all 28 EU members.
Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski revealed Friday in Brussels that Timmermans had agreed to “give Poland time” to implement “significant measures” proposed by Szydlo during a Tuesday telephone call.
In Friday’s parliamentary debate, leaders of Poland’s liberal opposition Civic Platform blasted Szydlo for “desecrating the constitution” and “burning more bridges with Europe”.
An MP from the conservative Polish Peasants’ Party went so far as to charge that the actions of her administration risked “civil war”.
Since taking office in November, the PiS government has pushed through several pieces of controversial legislation, including strengthening state control over public broadcasters and seeking to tighten already limited access to abortions.
Earlier this month, around a quarter of a million Poles marched to defend their country’s place in the European Union and protest against the PiS government’s dismantling of democratic checks and balances.
