At a significant gathering attended by representatives of the Council of Europe, member states, observer states, and Warsaw-based international organisations, Ministers Radosław Sikorski and Adam Bodnar underscored the proactive role of the Polish Government in restoring the rule of law and constitutional order in Poland. They reiterated the Government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the European Convention on Human Rights and complying with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
The ministers also acknowledged the pivotal role of the Council of Europe and its bodies in shaping human rights standards in Europe, and commended the Council’s 75 years of experience and achievements in this domain. They concurred that the previous administration’s deviation from established standards of the rule of law and violation of the constitutional balance of powers resulted in several judgments against Poland by the European Court of Human Rights.
The Polish Government has been actively collaborating with the Council of Europe to address systemic gaps that led to violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. Together, they have successfully restored independence to the National Council of the Judiciary and are currently in the process of adopting an act to implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. This act will ensure transparent procedures and clearly define the obligations of national authorities within the process, thereby strengthening the rule of law in Poland.
Minister Sikorski highlighted the improvements made by the new Government in democratic standards and the transparency of the selection process for a Polish judge for the European Court of Human Rights. He expressed confidence in Poland’s ability to submit a list of candidates who fully meet the required standards for the Court’s judge to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, thereby ensuring a fair and merit-based selection process.
During his speech, the Minister of Justice/Prosecutor General outlined the current and future measures being taken to uphold democratic standards. These measures include not only legislative changes but also improvements to government institutions and practical processes. The Polish Government’s relentless efforts have yielded a positive outcome, as the European Commission has announced the swift closure of the Article 7 TEU procedure against Poland. This significant development indicates that the Commission no longer sees a serious risk of a breach of the rule of law in Poland, providing a reassuring testament to our commitment.
Minister Adam Bodnar played a key role in this achievement by presenting the Ministry of Justice’s Action Plan at the European Union level. The minister also emphasised the involvement of civil society and academia in developing the legal solutions included in the plan. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude to international bodies and organisations, especially the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, for their support during the process of amending the law regarding the election of judges to the National Council of the Judiciary.
