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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU)
Photo: OLIVIER HOSLET / AFP
The bitter dispute over Poland's stance on EU law is a test of strength for the European Union.
The Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki did not show any concessions at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and again emphasized that his country would not allow itself to be blackmailed.
He received support from Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who spoke of a "witch hunt" against Poland.
Other countries such as the Netherlands, on the other hand, demanded greater pressure on Warsaw.
Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to mediate.
The second important topic of the summit, which lasted until Friday, was rising energy prices.
The EU Commission has suggested options such as tax cuts, payments to affected households or subsidies for small businesses.
However, countries like Spain or France are calling for more far-reaching European measures, such as reforming the electricity market.
The federal government has been skeptical so far.
Germany will "not switch off the market completely", but "provide more market," said Merkel.
In addition, further social support measures can be taken if necessary.
Even before the current debate, the federal government had already taken measures to relieve the budget.
In addition to the housing benefit, this also includes a reduction in the EEG surcharge to promote green electricity from state funds and an increase in the commuter allowance.
The independence of the Polish judiciary is at risk
For Merkel it is probably the last of a total of more than 100 EU summits.
At the next meeting of the heads of state and government in mid-December, according to current plans by the SPD, Greens and FDP, Olaf Scholz will be sworn in as Merkel's successor.
A short farewell ceremony for the Chancellor was planned for Thursday evening.
Merkel tried to play a moderator role in the legal dispute.
A cascade of legal disputes before the European Court of Justice is not a solution to the problem.
Merkel was alluding to the fact that the EU Commission has sued Poland several times before the European Court of Justice, among other things because of the judicial reforms.
The background to the current dispute is a ruling by the Polish Constitutional Court in Warsaw, according to which parts of EU law are incompatible with Poland's constitution.
In addition, the national conservative government in Poland has been criticized for years for its judicial reforms.
The EU Commission sees the independence of Polish judges at risk.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen and Morawiecki had a violent exchange of blows in the European Parliament.
Orban support
Morawiecki has now followed up: Certain EU institutions such as the Commission and the European Court of Justice have acquired competencies that were not granted to them in the EU treaties.
“That wasn't the deal.
And therefore neither the Polish government nor the Polish parliament will act under the pressure of blackmail in this matter. "
What Morawiecki understands by extortion is likely to be von der Leyen's announcement that EU corona aid worth billions will be blocked for Poland until the country has withdrawn certain judicial reforms.
The heads of government of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are now open to this approach.
Other countries such as Ireland also expressed great concern about developments in Poland.
On the other hand, Morawiecki received public support for his intransigent stance from the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The right-wing politician also complained about a "creeping expansion of competencies" in favor of the Brussels committees, which should be stopped.
"The Poles only had the courage to open this battle."
til / dpa