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European Commission and Poland back off on row

The European Commission says it will end a long dispute with Poland over the rule of law.

On Monday (6 May) the commission said it will withdraw the procedure launched in December 2017 under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union.

Judicial independence

The move came after Warsaw’s new centrist government took steps to restore judicial independence.

“Today, marks a new chapter for Poland,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, calling the breakthrough a result of the country’s determined reform efforts.

“The ongoing restoration of the rule of law in Poland is great for the Polish people and our union as a whole.”

The EU said in a statement that Poland had launched a series of legislative and non-legislative measures to address concerns about the independence of the justice system.

The EU said Poland has acknowledged the primacy of EU law and is committed to implementing the judgements of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.