International News

BRUSSELS, July 19, (APP/AFP) – The European Union
on Wednesday will mull turning up the heat on Poland’s rightwing government over plans to reshape the country’s courts — a drive critics say would undermine judicial freedom.
After launching reforms of the constitutional court following its
election victory in late 2015, the Polish government last week moved to overhaul the entire judicial system.
“We are following these developments with great concern,” said
Margaritis Schinas, spokesman for the European Commission, the powerful executive of the 28-nation EU, said.
The Commission will hold high-level talks on Wednesday before Vice
President Frans Timmermans gives his assessment of the situation.
Schinas said it was still unclear how events will unfold as the
reforms are contained in draft laws and the Polish legislative process is not yet complete.