Following the Commission endorsement of Poland's €35.4 billion recovery and resilience plan, MEPs question Ursula von der Leyen on this decision in light of long-standing concerns and persisting problems around the rule of law in the country. Opening statements by Council and Commission. Extracts from the debate.

debate

plenary session

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

EU - Poland (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Recovery plan for Europe (T)

The Rule of Law and the potential approval of the Polish national Recovery Plan (RRF): extracts from the debate

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SOUNDBITE (French), Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU, French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, The council is ready to examine the commission's proposal on the approval of the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Poland, and Council will also continue carefully to watch, just as we do with the plans that have already been adopted to make that all the rules governing this, including respect for the rule of law, are properly applied.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC President, First the current disciplinary chamber must be abolished and replaced by an independent and impartial court established by law. That means the new disciplinary chamber must be substantially different.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC President, Second the disciplinary regime has to be reformed. That means controversial disciplinary offences have to be removed. For example, the request to the ECJ. This is no more an offence. Or the questioning of the status of another judge. This cannot be any more an offence. And Third all judges affected by the rulings of the disciplinary chamber shall have the right to have their case reviewed by the new chamber within a clear timeframe and on the basis of the new regime free from inappropriate offences.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC President, These three commitments translated into milestones must be fulfilled before any payment can be made. I know that some of you are sceptical, but let me assure that no money will be disbursed until these reforms are undertaken.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC President, The rulings of the Court of Justice concerning the disciplinary regime remine remain binding on Poland and the commission will continue to enforce the order of the court and apply the daily penalty payments until the Polish government complies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Siegfried MURE&#350;AN (EPP, RO), I say very clear before this Parliament, our group will not tolerate the release of a single euro from the recovery and resilience facility until the Polish authorities comply with the rulings of the European Court of Justice. And we expect the European Commission to not disperse funds until the Polish authorities adopt the necessary legislation and prove that the cause on which the embarked is irreversible.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), S&amp;D Group leader, I would say that in this war with serious economic and social circumstances, we admire the efforts and solidarity of Polish society in hosting refugees. That solidarity cannot be used as a bargaining chip to give the Polish government any special treatment in the fulfilment of the rule of law, because Polish citizens deserve nothing less. Nor does the union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Damian BOESELAGER, Greens/EFA, You caved in to the pressures and blackmailing of the Polish government, and we have seen absolutely zero improvement on the Polish side when it comes to the justice system. And you still recommended the recovery plan for approval. The majority of this House and some of your commissioners believe this to be a huge mistake.

SOUNDBITE (English), Damian BOESELAGER, Greens/EFA, It needs to be clear that we will use all the tools available to us to make sure that the commission does not approve any European tax payers money. As you have said, flowing to Poland without real reforms taking place. And yes, this also includes the tool to force the commission to resign.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (ECR, PL), I heard that Poland has an authoritarian government. Is this an authoritarian government? We have much more freedom than Spain, which is ruled by extremely oppressive government.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN &apos;T VELD (Renew, SE), The Commission ignores Parliament, the rulings of the highest European courts. The letters of dissent of five commissioners ignored. Its own Article seven procedure against Poland, ignored.The calls from Polish civil society, warnings by judicial authorities in other member states, ignored.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN &apos;T VELD (Renew, NL), Colleagues, it is our duty as a European Parliament to hold the Commission to account. A critical Parliament is not the problem. A silent Parliament is. Politics, colleagues, is not for the faint hearted. Are we a watchdog or are we a lapdog?