Polish parliament approves legal reform that could unblock EU funds

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The lower house of Polish parliament, the Sejm, approved on Friday a new law on judicial accountability to help unlock pandemic recovery funds for the country.

In the 460-deputy parliament, 203 lawmakers supported the bill, while 52 – including 22 from the ruling coalition – opposed it, with 189 abstentions. Sixteen deputies did not participate in the voting.

Brussels had suspended the aid for Poland, saying the government's policies of exerting control over the judiciary were in violation of democratic principles.

If the law meets EU expectations,Warsaw will receive more than 35 billion euros ($37 billion) in grants and loans.

Under the new law, all disciplinary matters regarding judges will be resolved by the administrative court, which was created in place of a disciplinary chamber considered politicized by the European Commission.

The new law now goes to the opposition-controlled Senate for assessment and then requires approval from President Andrzej Duda.