EU takes unprecedented action against Poland — Analysis
An EU mechanism to withhold price range money will probably be triggered after Poland racked up large every day fines of €500,000 for refusing to shutter a lignite mine
The European Fee has knowledgeable Poland that will probably be docking a multimillion-euro superb out of EU funds earmarked for Warsaw, Brussels spokesman Balazs Ujvari advised AFP on Tuesday.
The mechanism will probably be triggered subsequent week and can see 15 million euros ($17.1 million) deducted from cash Poland anticipated to obtain from Brussels.
Poland racked up the debt by refusing to pay a every day penalty of €500,000 ($571,450) after rejecting an order to shut a lignite mine.
The Czech authorities introduced the lawsuit towards Poland on the European Court docket of Justice in regards to the unlawful operation of the Turów coal mine, which sits close to the Czech border. The mine is operated by Polish state-owned coal firm PGE.
The EU ordered Poland to stop operations final 12 months, and Warsaw has since racked up €60 million ($68.5 million) in unpaid fines in its refusal to acquiesce to Brussels’ request.
A primary cost for the monetary penalty was due on January 18, however Poland didn’t comply.
Warsaw, and the federal government of right-wing Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, has regularly been at loggerheads with the EU, notably over the fee’s makes an attempt to hyperlink entry to European funding with nationwide efforts to uphold the rule of regulation.
Brussels has additionally condemned Warsaw for introducing a disciplinary chamber for judges which has been described as “incompatible” with EU regulation.
Final week, Prague and Warsaw reached an settlement over the mine, with Poland agreeing to compensate Czechia for its operations.
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