The European Court of Justice (ECJ), the highest judicial body of the European Union (EU), ruled that Poland violated EU law with the judicial reform implemented in 2019.
In the statement made by the AAD, it was stated that Poland did not fulfill its obligations under the EU Treaty, while the Disciplinary Board, which has the power to lift the immunity of the judges established within the Supreme Judiciary, did not meet the condition of impartiality and independence.
Poland, whose decision cannot be appealed, has to implement the ECJ’s decision within the time allowed by the European Commission.
Largest fine in EU history
Poland was also sentenced to the largest fine in EU history.
The European Commission launched an investigation into the fact that the judicial reform implemented by Poland was against EU law, after which the matter was brought to the ECJ, and the ECJ decided to immediately suspend the activities of the Polish High Judicial Disciplinary Board until the case was decided on 14 July 2021.
After Poland did not implement the decision, the AAD ruled that Poland be fined 1 million euros per day in October 2021.
With the AAD’s decision on the case today, the daily fine of 1 million euros against Poland ended, while Poland was fined 556 million euros in total over the period.
After the Polish authorities refused to pay the fine, the EU decided to cut the fine from EU funds to be given to Poland.