MEPs discuss the contentious verdict of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, which states that cornerstone provisions of the Treaty on the EU (Art. 1 and 19) are unconstitutional under Polish law. Extracts from the debate with tha statements of the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the European Commission President Ursula von Leyen, the Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs Anže LOGAR. And the statements of MEPs : Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Malik AZMANI (Renew, NL), Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (ECR, PL), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE), Nicolas BAY (ID, FR).

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

LEGUTKO, Ryszard Antoni (ECR, PL)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

BAY, Nicolas (ECR, FR)

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

EU - Poland (T)

SCHIRDEWAN, Martin (The Left, DE)

MORAWIECKI, Mateusz (PL)

AZMANI, Malik (Renew, NL)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

LOGAR, Anže (SI)

The Rule of law crisis in Poland and the primacy of EU law: extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/18251725/I212446Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Arrival of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (6 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), An&#382;e LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Commission's 2021 Rule of Law Report fits into this exercise and the primacy of EU law is amongst the topics covered in the report. The General Affair Council will discuss again rule of law issues at its session on 23d November.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The European Commission is at the moment carefully assessing this judgement. But I can already tell you today, I am deeply concerned. This ruling calls into question the foundations of the European Union. It is a direct challenge to the unity of the European legal order. Only a common legal order provides equal rights, legal certainty, mutual trust between member states and therefore common policies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, The rule of law is the glue that binds our Union together. It is the foundation of our unity. It is essential for the protection of the values on which our union is founded. Democracy, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights. And this is what all 27 member states have signed up to as part of this Union as sovereign countries and free people.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, EU integration is our choice. This is our destiny. Europe is our place. We do not want to go anywhere else. We want Europe to be strong and courageous. We are not looking at short term benefits. We also keep thinking about what we can give to Europe, Poland has been deriving great benefits from economic integration. Also technology transfers, financial transfers are of course important. But Poland did not join the EU empty-handed.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, Any policy must be based on the principles and the very foundation of the EU is the principle of democracy. Therefore, we must not remain silent when our country is being attacked, even in this room, in an unjust and in a partial way.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, It is unacceptable to expand competences of institutions by way of "fait accompli. You must not impose a decision or a verdict without a legal basis. It is unacceptable to talk about financial penalties, etc.. We had even worse language as related to some member states. I reject the language of threats and "fait accompli". I would not leave you politicians blackmail Poland. Blackmail must not be a method of policy conducted vis a vis a certain member state.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Mateusz MORAWIECKI, Polish Prime Minister, We want to have more and more in common. But there are differences between us. If we are to cooperate, we must agree that such differences exist. The EU will not fall apart only because our legal systems will be different. We have been functioning like this for decades now. Maybe one day in the future, we do agree to align our legal systems. But for that to happen, what is needed is a sovereign decisions by sovereign member states.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), So it is not about the Poles, it is not about the country, it's about Polish policy as implemented by the government. So let us be factual, Europe is not a state, Europe is a community of states, and we have undertaken shared commitments which regulate the way our community works.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), If you reject the supremacy of the rulings of the European Court, then you are rejecting implicitly the independence of the judiciary. Donald Tusk is right, saying that the EU ruling has got to be revised because otherwise it is going to lead to major problems and the Poles can understand and see this. They have perceived it very clearly.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), I think we are missing the focus of this debate. When you and the PiS party set this out as a confrontation between Polish and European sovereignty, you have not understood what the EU is. 70 years ago, the founding fathers understood that in an interdependent world, the best way of exercising sovereignty in certain areas was by sharing it. Together we can better solve problems, together we are stronger, we come here voluntarily because we trust in each other, because we believe in a mejor future.

SOUNDBITE (English), Malik AZMANI (Renew, NL), We, Renew Europe, call on you President Von Der Leyen to act immediately on the following: reject the recovery plan for Poland, trigger the rule of law conditionality mechanism.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), I remember very well today when Poland joined the European Union. It was just such a joyful day, such a day full of hope, of overcoming very physical borders, but also the borders in our head. And today it pains me to see how your government undermines this very unity that we celebrated together. Your government has turned its back on the rule of law, on the independence of the judiciary, on minorities, on almost anyone who does not fit your reactionary ideology.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (ECR, PL), You see, Madam President, we are not afraid of European law. We are afraid of European lawlessness, of the tyranny of the majority, of the abuse of power, of the use of the treaties, despite what one can see in the Parliament and in the Commission, might is not right.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHIRDEWAN (The Left, DE), That passivity from the Commission and from you, Mrs Von der Leyen, has brought us to this situation. Please, finally assume your responsibility. The time for fine speeches is over. Please, act. And please make sure that the Rule of Law conditionality mechanism is being applied and stop appeasing the authoritarian powers that policy should not be funded by European money.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nicolas BAY (ID, FR), The Rule of Law cannot be separated from national and popular sovereignty. This learnt assembly of commissioners, civil servants an from other countries. Are they legitimate to tell our people what is a way of life or system of government should be? Well, those are the questions that bring us here today.