Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on judicial reforms in Poland and efforts by the EU to address these reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17592/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Dialogue has been ongoing between the European Commission and Poland regarding the rule of law since January 2016, when the Commission initiated its rule of law process following changes introduced by the Polish government to the functioning and composition of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal.

The Commission issued further recommendations to Poland following a series of judicial reforms introduced by the Polish government. On 20 December 2017, the Commission proposed to the Council to adopt a decision under Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union and adopted recommendations of actions for the Polish government to take.

The Polish government responded to the Commission on 20 March 2018. Dialogue is continuing between the Commission and the Polish government at various levels, including through a visit to Warsaw by First Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, on 9 April.

This issue was discussed by Ministers at the General Affairs Council in February, March, and April this year. At the Council’s meeting on 17 April, the Commission updated Ministers on the latest developments in its dialogue with the Polish authorities. A number of amendments have been introduced in the Polish Parliament to the Polish government’s judicial reforms. These and the Polish response of 20 March are being considered by the Commission.

Ireland has consistently stressed the importance of the rule of law and urged Poland and the Commission to reach a solution on this matter through dialogue. Speaking at the General Affairs Council on 17 April, Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., reiterated this position and expressed the Government’s hope that outstanding concerns can be addressed in the near future.