Brussels (Brussels Morning) Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński has denounced the EC’s insistence on the primacy of EU law as an attempt to undermine Polish sovereignty.
The European Commission had called on Poland in June to withdraw a motion seeking a ruling on the primacy of the Constitution of Poland over EU law, Reuters reports.
Now, in a letter quoted by the Polish Press Agency, Kaczyński stressed “this is an unbelievable demand that undermines the foundations of our sovereignty, our constitutional order, the right of the Republic of Poland to success.”
Kaczyński, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS), described the EC’s move as part of the “opposition’s fight to overthrow the democratically elected government” and a “tool to impose a new, revolutionary order in Europe.”
Polish opposition politicians warn that challenging the primacy of EU law jeopardises Poland’s future in the bloc and the stability of the EU itself.
The Polish Constitutional Tribunal was initially to rule on the matter in July, but proceedings were adjourned until 22 September.
EC’s position
Earlier this month, the European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, noted that the legal process against Poland was holding up 57 billion euro in EU recovery funds to the country.
Last week, EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced the Commission would not let up in its legal battle with Poland.
“This is what we all signed up to when we became part of this Union as free and sovereign countries”, she noted and stressed “we are determined to defend these values.”
Von der Leyen pointed out that the EC opted for “dialogue and decisive action” and that the Commission would not change its approach.
The majority of EU member states have received the EC’s approval for their respective national recovery plans, designed to help them bounce back from the coronavirus crisis. Hungary’s and Poland’s plans have yet to be approved.
