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Poland's Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro
Photo: Mateusz Marek / EPA
Poland's Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro strictly rejects the payment of the fines imposed by the EU judiciary.
"Poland cannot and should not pay a single zloty," the minister told journalists on Thursday.
His country should also "not submit to lawlessness."
Neither in the case of lignite mining in the Turow opencast mine nor in the dispute over the restructuring of the Polish judicial system, the fine should be paid.
On Wednesday, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ordered Warsaw to pay the EU Commission one million euros per day because Poland had not implemented the ECJ's decision on the controversial disciplinary body for judges.
But this is necessary to avert serious and irreparable damage to European values, especially the rule of law in the EU.
In September, Poland was also sentenced to daily payments of half a million euros because, contrary to an interim order, it did not stop lignite mining in Turow on the border with the Czech Republic.
The EU Commission and Poland have been arguing for a long time about compliance with the rule of law principles that are binding for EU countries.
Poland has been accused of disregarding them since the national conservative government initiated the restructuring of the Polish judiciary.
The dispute escalated further when the Polish Constitutional Court ruled in early October that EU law did not take precedence over national law.
Von der Leyen would like to pay out Corona aid fund - but only under three conditions
In the EU - and also by the Polish opposition - demands are often made to withhold payments to Poland in the course of the Corona aid fund in order to revive the economy.
This is up to 57 billion euros.
Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki calls this "blackmail" and speaks of his government being "put the gun on the chest".
On Thursday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained for the first time what conditions the EU Commission sets for the disbursement of the money.
The Polish government must abolish the disciplinary body and reform or end the disciplinary regime with which judges can be put under pressure.
In addition, a process must be started to reinstate judges who have already been dismissed.
“I think it can be done and I hope we can come to an agreement.
But reform is a sine qua non, «von der Leyen said at a press conference.
slü / AFP / Reuters