EU takes Poland to its top court over judicial reform
BRUSSELS — The European Union said Monday it has decided to take Poland to the bloc’s top court over the overhaul of the country’s judicial system and also ask the European Court of Justice to suspend a recent law on Supreme Court judges.
The EU’s executive Commission has been increasingly critical of Poland’s judicial reform under a right-wing government and has alleged some laws are a violation of Western democratic standards.
The body said in a statement that “the Polish law on the Supreme Court is incompatible with EU law as it undermines the principle of judicial independence.”
Poland’s law on the retirement of judges at the Supreme Court put 27 of 72 judges at risk of being forced to retire, the Commission said, with no clear criteria on who can stay.