| UPDATED: 12:15, Wed, Jan 13, 2021
Link copied
EU: Expert discusses ‘long term challenge’ of rule of law Sign up to receive our rundown of the day s top stories direct to your inbox
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
The battle over rule of law has been described as a long-term challenge facing Poland and the European Union, according to the Vice-President of the Civil Development Forum Marek Tatala. Poland is increasingly being viewed as a troublemaker within EU, with the country, together with Hungary, accused of adopting authoritarian governing styles. The ruling Law and Justice Party in Warsaw have used sweeping reforms in an attempt to interfere with the country s judiciary, spark
3 Min Read
WARSAW (Reuters) - State-controlled Polish refiner PKN Orlen is buying regional newspaper publisher Polska Press from its German owner, bringing more of the local media back into Polish hands.
FILE PHOTO: A man fixes PKN Orlen logo, Poland s top oil refiner, at their petrol station in Warsaw, Poland April 28, 2016. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has long argued that foreign media companies have too much influence in Poland, distorting public debate, but critics say the government wants to increase state control over independent media.
In comments emailed to Reuters, PKN Orlen chief executive Daniel Obajtek said the acquisition was a business investment.
WARSAW, POLAND Poland s top court ruled Thursday that a law allowing abortion of fetuses with congenital defects is unconstitutional, shutting a major loophole in the predominantly Catholic country s abortion laws that are among the strictest in Europe. Two judges in the 13-member constitutional Court did not back the majority ruling. Activists deplored the decision, and the Council of Europe s human rights commissioner wrote on Twitter that it was a sad day for women s rights. The decision came in response to a motion from right-wing lawmakers who argued that terminating a pregnancy due to fetal defects the most common reason cited for legal abortions in Poland violates a constitutional provision that calls for protecting the life of every individual.
News & Politics
December 18, 2020 Budka said that the Tribunal s ruling will lead to the collapse of prenatal research, increase the numbers of underground abortions, and divide women into those who can afford an abortion and those who cannot. Mateusz Marek/PAP
The leader of Poland s biggest opposition party has said he is in favour of giving Polish women the right to decide on abortion. If I am correctly understanding the signals from most of my parliamentary colleagues, then there is absolutely no return to the 1993 (abortion) compromise as it has been crossed out by the present government, Borys Budka, the leader of the Civic Platform, told Friday s Dziennik Gazeta Prawna newspaper.
Representatives of the Polish government confirmed Warsaw is willing to give up its veto at Thursday’s European Council in Brussels.
“We expect that the latest findings will confirm that conditionality only serves to protect the budget. We also expect a clear declaration that a mere finding of a breach of the rule of law cannot trigger the suspension of payments,” said Poland’s European Affairs Minister Konrad Szymański, assessing the latest proposals for a compromise on the long-term EU budget.
“Contrary to some comments, there will be no interpretative statement, but there will be guidelines which will oblige the European Commission to act within the limits acceptable to us,” the minister added.