Poland has been given the green light to exit the Article 7 procedure, which had been ongoing since 2017. The European Commission made this decision after assessing Poland’s progress in improving its rule of law system. Recent changes in the country, including new leadership and reforms to the judicial system, have contributed to this positive outcome.
The activation of the Article 7 procedure in 2017 was a significant step taken by the EU Commission, as it could have resulted in sanctions against a member state, including loss of voting rights in the Council of the EU. However, with Poland’s commitment to upholding EU legislation and court judgments, and its membership in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the Commission determined that there is no longer a clear risk of serious violations of the rule of law.
Despite past challenges such as concerns about judicial independence and media freedom, Poland has made progress in addressing these issues. The decision to unfreeze EU stimulus funds worth billions of euros will further support these reform efforts. With formal withdrawal from the Article 7 process expected soon, Poland is set to enter a new era of rule-of-law compliance within the EU.
