Poland accused the European Union on Wednesday of "double standards" in its treatment of member states, a day after Brussels rejected Warsaw's defense of its court reforms that critics say threaten democracy.

The EU has threatened to take punitive action that could include stripping Poland of its voting rights if Warsaw does not retract legislation that tightens state controls over the judiciary.

"Nothing hurts the idea of European integration more than the actual inequality of its member states before the law, the use of double standards and the departure of the European Commission from its role as an objective guardian of treaties to (become) an instrument in the hands of some states," Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told parliament.

Poland argues that in some other EU member states, including Spain and Germany, politicians also play a role in picking some judges. It says its judicial reforms are necessary to improve the efficiency and transparency of Poland's court system.

The right-wing government in Warsaw is at loggerheads with the European Commission, the EU's executive, on a range of issues, including migrant quotas. Poland is refusing to take in some of the mainly Muslim asylum seekers under the quota system.

Czaputowicz, who was briefing lawmakers on the government's foreign policy goals for 2018, said EU institutions were ignoring voters' concerns and that this was feeding a eurosceptic backlash against Brussels.

"A deficit of democracy in the European Union is not a figure of speech, it is a reality that has deep political consequences," he said.

"The rising wave of opposition to integration on the European continent is not the cause of the democratic weakness of the Union, but a result of it," he said, adding that Poland still wanted a "strong European Union."

Despite the strained relations between Warsaw and Brussels, opinion surveys show that support for the EU in Poland - the biggest recipient of EU funds for infrastructure and other projects - is among the highest in the 28-nation bloc.

In his speech, Czaputowicz also stressed Poland's concern that increased EU integration should not lead to a reduced role for the United States in defending Europe.

Poland, a staunch NATO ally, values its close security ties with the United States in the face of a more assertive Russia.

Warsaw and Washington both oppose the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would pump Russian gas directly to western Europe. Germany and Austria support the project. </s> Poland has accused the European Union of "double standards" in its treatment of member states, a day after Brussels rejected Warsaw's defence of its court reforms that critics say threaten democracy.

The EU has threatened to take punitive action that could include stripping Poland of its voting rights if Warsaw does not retract legislation that tightens state controls over the judiciary.

The right-wing government in Warsaw is at loggerheads with the European Commission, the EU's executive, on a range of issues, including migrant quotas.

Poland is refusing to take in some of the mainly Muslim asylum seekers under the quota system.

Warsaw says its judicial reforms are necessary to improve the efficiency and transparency of Poland's court system.

Poland argues that in some other EU member states, including Spain and Germany, politicians also play a role in picking some judges.

"Nothing hurts the idea of European integration more than the actual inequality of its member states before the law, the use of double standards and the departure of the European Commission from its role as an objective guardian of treaties to (become) an instrument in the hands of some states," Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told parliament.

Czaputowicz, who was briefing legislators on the government's foreign policy goals for 2018, said EU institutions were ignoring voters' concerns and that this was feeding a eurosceptic backlash against Brussels.

"A deficit of democracy in the European Union is not a figure of speech, it is reality that has deep political consequences," the foreign minister said.

"The rising wave of opposition to integration on the European continent is not the cause of the democratic weakness of the Union, but a result of it," he said, adding that Poland still wanted a "strong European Union".

Despite the strained relations between Warsaw and Brussels, opinion surveys show that support for the EU in Poland - the biggest recipient of EU funds for infrastructure and other projects - is among the highest in the 28-nation bloc.

In his speech, Czaputowicz also stressed Poland's concern that increased EU integration should not lead to a reduced role for the United States in defending Europe.

Poland, a staunch NATO ally, values its close security ties with the US in the face of a more assertive Russia.

Warsaw and Washington both oppose the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would pump Russian gas directly to Western Europe. Germany and Austria support the project. </s> WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland accused the European Union on Wednesday of "double standards" in its treatment of member states, a day after Brussels rejected Warsaw's defense of its court reforms that critics say threaten democracy.

 The EU has threatened to take punitive action that could include stripping Poland of its voting rights if Warsaw does not retract legislation that tightens state controls over the judiciary.

 "Nothing hurts the idea of European integration more than the actual inequality of its member states before the law, the use of double standards and the departure of the European Commission from its role as an objective guardian of treaties to (become) an instrument in the hands of some states," Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told parliament.

 Poland argues that in some other EU member states, including Spain and Germany, politicians also play a role in picking some judges. It says its judicial reforms are necessary to improve the efficiency and transparency of Poland's court system.

 The right-wing government in Warsaw is at loggerheads with the European Commission, the EU's executive, on a range of issues, including migrant quotas. Poland is refusing to take in some of the mainly Muslim asylum seekers under the quota system.

 Czaputowicz, who was briefing lawmakers on the government's foreign policy goals for 2018, said EU institutions were ignoring voters' concerns and that this was feeding a euroskeptic backlash against Brussels.

 "A deficit of democracy in the European Union is not a figure of speech, it is reality that has deep political consequences," he said.

 "The rising wave of opposition to integration on the European continent is not the cause of the democratic weakness of the Union, but a result of it," he said, adding that Poland still wanted a "strong European Union". 

 Despite the strained relations between Warsaw and Brussels, opinion surveys show that support for the EU in Poland - the biggest recipient of EU funds for infrastructure and other projects - is among the highest in the 28-nation bloc.

 In his speech, Czaputowicz also stressed Poland's concern that increased EU integration should not lead to a reduced role for the United States in defending Europe.

 Poland, a staunch NATO ally, values its close security ties with the United States in the face of a more assertive Russia.

 Warsaw and Washington both oppose the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would pump Russian gas directly to western Europe. Germany and Austria support the project.

 

 (Reporting by Marcin Goettig and Pawel Sobczak; Writing by Marcin Goettig; Editing by Gareth Jones) </s> WARSAW, March 21 (Reuters) - Poland accused the European Union on Wednesday of "double standards" in its treatment of member states, a day after Brussels rejected Warsaw's defence of its court reforms that critics say threaten democracy.

The EU has threatened to take punitive action that could include stripping Poland of its voting rights if Warsaw does not retract legislation that tightens state controls over the judiciary.

"Nothing hurts the idea of European integration more than the actual inequality of its member states before the law, the use of double standards and the departure of the European Commission from its role as an objective guardian of treaties to (become) an instrument in the hands of some states," Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told parliament.

Poland argues that in some other EU member states, including Spain and Germany, politicians also play a role in picking some judges. It says its judicial reforms are necessary to improve the efficiency and transparency of Poland's court system.

The right-wing government in Warsaw is at loggerheads with the European Commission, the EU's executive, on a range of issues, including migrant quotas. Poland is refusing to take in some of the mainly Muslim asylum seekers under the quota system.

Czaputowicz, who was briefing lawmakers on the government's foreign policy goals for 2018, said EU institutions were ignoring voters' concerns and that this was feeding a eurosceptic backlash against Brussels.

"A deficit of democracy in the European Union is not a figure of speech, it is reality that has deep political consequences," he said.

"The rising wave of opposition to integration on the European continent is not the cause of the democratic weakness of the Union, but a result of it," he said, adding that Poland still wanted a "strong European Union".

Despite the strained relations between Warsaw and Brussels, opinion surveys show that support for the EU in Poland - the biggest recipient of EU funds for infrastructure and other projects - is among the highest in the 28-nation bloc.

In his speech, Czaputowicz also stressed Poland's concern that increased EU integration should not lead to a reduced role for the United States in defending Europe.

Poland, a staunch NATO ally, values its close security ties with the United States in the face of a more assertive Russia.

Warsaw and Washington both oppose the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would pump Russian gas directly to western Europe. Germany and Austria support the project. (Reporting by Marcin Goettig and Pawel Sobczak Writing by Marcin Goettig Editing by Gareth Jones) </s> WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland accused the European Union on Wednesday of “double standards” in its treatment of member states, a day after Brussels rejected Warsaw’s defense of its court reforms that critics say threaten democracy.

The EU has threatened to take punitive action that could include stripping Poland of its voting rights if Warsaw does not retract legislation that tightens state controls over the judiciary.

“Nothing hurts the idea of European integration more than the actual inequality of its member states before the law, the use of double standards and the departure of the European Commission from its role as an objective guardian of treaties to (become) an instrument in the hands of some states,” Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told parliament.

Poland argues that in some other EU member states, including Spain and Germany, politicians also play a role in picking some judges. It says its judicial reforms are necessary to improve the efficiency and transparency of Poland’s court system.

The right-wing government in Warsaw is at loggerheads with the European Commission, the EU’s executive, on a range of issues, including migrant quotas. Poland is refusing to take in some of the mainly Muslim asylum seekers under the quota system.

Czaputowicz, who was briefing lawmakers on the government’s foreign policy goals for 2018, said EU institutions were ignoring voters’ concerns and that this was feeding a euroskeptic backlash against Brussels.

“A deficit of democracy in the European Union is not a figure of speech, it is reality that has deep political consequences,” he said.

“The rising wave of opposition to integration on the European continent is not the cause of the democratic weakness of the Union, but a result of it,” he said, adding that Poland still wanted a “strong European Union”.

Despite the strained relations between Warsaw and Brussels, opinion surveys show that support for the EU in Poland - the biggest recipient of EU funds for infrastructure and other projects - is among the highest in the 28-nation bloc.

In his speech, Czaputowicz also stressed Poland’s concern that increased EU integration should not lead to a reduced role for the United States in defending Europe.

Poland, a staunch NATO ally, values its close security ties with the United States in the face of a more assertive Russia.

Warsaw and Washington both oppose the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would pump Russian gas directly to western Europe. Germany and Austria support the project. </s> WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s foreign minister on Wednesday accused Russia of trying to change the political order in Europe by destabilizing Eastern Europe, breaking trans-Atlantic unity and deepening divisions among European allies.

Jacek Czaputowicz described Russian resurgence today as an attempt to restore the power over Eastern Europe that Moscow lost following the collapse of Soviet-backed regimes in 1989.

“Russia is striving to revise the political order in Europe which emerged after 1989 and brought Poland a restoration of its independence,” Czaputowicz said in a speech in parliament in which he outlined his foreign policy priorities for the year.

He accused Russia of seeking to inflame political divisions within European states and between them, “breaking up trans-Atlantic unity and deepening divisions within the European Union.”

Those deepening divisions within the EU include Britain’s decision to leave, as well as Poland’s own disputes with EU bodies and other EU states that have erupted following the election in 2015 of the nationalist ruling party, Law and Justice.

Czaputowicz stressed, however, that despite some criticism of Brussels, his government seeks a strong EU. He described Poland’s membership in the EU as a factor that strengthens Poland’s position in the international arena and says it brings many political and economic benefits.

He also said that this year Poland would seek to obtain compensation from Germany for losses suffered World War II, when Poland was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany. It is an issue that party leaders began raising last summer. </s> WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's foreign minister on Wednesday accused Russia of trying to change the political order in Europe by destabilizing Eastern Europe, breaking trans-Atlantic unity and deepening divisions among European allies.

Jacek Czaputowicz described Russian resurgence today as an attempt to restore the power over Eastern Europe that Moscow lost following the collapse of Soviet-backed regimes in 1989.

"Russia is striving to revise the political order in Europe which emerged after 1989 and brought Poland a restoration of its independence," Czaputowicz said in a speech in parliament in which he outlined his foreign policy priorities for the year.

He accused Russia of seeking to inflame political divisions within European states and between them, "breaking up trans-Atlantic unity and deepening divisions within the European Union."

Those deepening divisions within the EU include Britain's decision to leave, as well as Poland's own disputes with EU bodies and other EU states that have erupted following the election in 2015 of the nationalist ruling party, Law and Justice.

Czaputowicz stressed, however, that despite some criticism of Brussels, his government seeks a strong EU. He described Poland's membership in the EU as a factor that strengthens Poland's position in the international arena and says it brings many political and economic benefits.

He also said that this year Poland would seek to obtain compensation from Germany for losses suffered World War II, when Poland was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany. It is an issue that party leaders began raising last summer.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz meets with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas during his visit in Warsaw March 16, 2018. — Reuters picWARSAW, March 21 — Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz today stressed Poland’s right to reform its judiciary however it likes, adding he regrets that the European Union launched unprecedented legal action against Warsaw.

“We defend our right to reform our justice system in accordance with the expectations of Polish people,” Czaputowicz told parliament during an annual overview of Poland’s foreign diplomacy.

These reforms “do not violate the principles of the democratic rule of law... instead they reinforce them.”

Brussels in December triggered Article 7 of the EU treaty over what it sees as “systemic threats” to the independence of the Polish judiciary from the country’s right-wing government—a move that could lead to never-before-used sanctions.

Poland had three months to reply to the EU’s concerns and on Tuesday the foreign ministry said it had met the deadline, without specifying the contents of its response.

Judging from Czaputowicz’s remarks to parliament however, it does not appear that Poland offered to make any concessions in its letter to the EU.

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said Tuesday that the EU’s executive arm will analyse Warsaw’s response before ministers meet again next month to assess whether “steps forward were made or not”.

The stakes are high if Warsaw fails to satisfy Brussels.

It could be stripped of voting rights in the bloc under the Article 7 procedure—covering systemic threats to the rule of law—which had never been previously used against an EU state.

However, Poland’s ally Hungary, which has also clashed with Brussels over democracy issues, has vowed to veto any sanction.

Czaputowicz reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to the European Union, recalling that 87 percent of Poles are pro-EU. He struck a few eurosceptic notes however.

“The European Commission is not an uber-government nor is the European Parliament an uber-parliament. They are not empowered to give instructions to national governments and parliaments,” he said. — AFP </s> Poland is hoping to step into the gap after Britain leaves the European Union, emulating its caution over Russia and defence of national sovereignty, Warsaw's top diplomat has told AFP.

Despite heightened tensions with Brussels over a series of controversial court reforms which could see Poland facing sanctions, Warsaw is determined to drive forward its vision of the bloc's future after Britain's departure in March 2019.

"What's taking shape is the possibility of us taking Britain's place (in terms of) its programme: commitment to free competition and awareness of the Russian threat, as well a defence of its own positions, of its sovereignty," Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told AFP.

Like Poland, Britain had always had a more realistic view of Russian aggression than Germany or France, he said, pointing to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy on British soil, with London pointing the finger at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We've always been wary of Putin's actions, and we were right," Czaputowicz said, mentioning Russia's annexation of Crimea and its action in Syria.

"And now the attempted murder of (Sergei) Skripal. We see a continuation of this policy."

Following Britain's lead, Poland, France and Germany have each expelled four Russian diplomats in response to poisoning scandal in a united show of strength.

"It's an important sign of our unity and a signal to Moscow that it's not possible to divide Western countries regarding their stance towards Russia," he said.

What does give him pause in Europe, however, is French President Emmanuel Macron's vision of a "sovereign Europe".

"It's impossible to have sovereignty within sovereignty. In other words, a sovereign Europe calls into question the sovereignty of member states," he said.

The issue could very well come up next month when Czaputowicz, who took over as foreign minister earlier this year, pays his first visit to Paris.

"I doubt the French would accept sovereignty passing over to the EU at the expense of French sovereignty," he said.

"So it's necessary to continue the conversation, even as both sides want a strong Europe."

Czaputowicz also zeroed in on the European Commission, which last year launched unprecedented legal action against Warsaw over the governing conservatives' reform of the Polish judiciary.

The question, he said, was about the source of the EU's legitimacy, which Poland sees as stemming from national parliaments.

"We defend parliamentary democracy," he said.

"The question is about the reinforcement of certain supranational institutions, like the Commission. It's a question of what is their role -- if they are legitimate per se or if they are legitimate by virtue of the member states' decisions," Czaputowicz said.

In December, Brussels triggered Article 7 of the EU treaty over what it sees as "systemic threats" to the independence of the Polish judiciary -- in a move that could lead to an unprecedented round of sanctions.

After turning a deaf ear to the EU's concerns for months, Poland's rightwing government said last week it would introduce a draft law to slightly modify the judiciary changes.

Western diplomats welcomed the changes -- which notably concern the retirement age of judges and the dismissal procedure of chief justices -- as a bid to thaw ties with the EU.

But Poland's liberal opposition believes the changes are merely "cosmetic".

"There is a willingness to compromise" on Poland's side, said Czaputowicz, who will meet European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans in Warsaw on April 9.

But he said that certain changes "are out of the question -- those that could destroy the system put in place."

Warsaw also wants to revive the so-called "Weimar Triangle" which grouped Poland, France and Germany but was effectively put on hold by Paris after Warsaw abruptly dropped a multi-billion euro helicopter deal with a French aeronautics firm.

Within the group, Poland could also represent other Central and Eastern European countries with which it has "shared interests, shared aspirations within the EU, shared history and the same geopolitical situation," he said.

Poland could thus "introduce Central Europe's way of thinking and expectations into a common European vision."
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz accuses the European Union of "double standards" and of suffering "a deficit of democracy". Poland and the European Commission are engaged in disputes over migrant quotas and proposed reform of Poland's judiciary.