Differences at EU Commission on how to deal with Poland

POLITICO reports that in the battle over the rule of law, Poland is splitting the European Commission at its highest level.

EU officials and diplomats familiar with the latest developments say on one side of the split are Martin Selmayr, the Commission’s chief civil servant, and President Jean-Claude Juncker, and on the other is Franz Timmermans, the first vice president who has been leading the charge against Poland.

The sources say that Selmayr and Juncker are ready to back away from the Article 7 disciplinary proceedings that the Commission has initiated against Warsaw — and which could lead to a loss of voting rights. This has been done because of  “fears that it could result in a series of potentially divisive votes by EU countries and ultimately fail to force Poland to undo its judicial changes. They want further talks with Warsaw instead.”

Although Poland was on the agenda of the meeting of the Commissioners, Maroš Šefčovič, a Commission vice president, told reporters the issue “was not discussed today.”

Timmermans is urging the Commission to take a hard line and not ease the pressure until Poland’s governing Law and Justice party repeals the judicial changes, including a controversial law on the Supreme Court set to take effect on July 3.

Some Commission officials said talk of a split in the Commission is mostly pro-Warsaw spin, and that Selmayr, Juncker and Timmermans are of one mind when it comes to the rule of law.