An S&D Group delegation visited Warsaw today to discuss the controversial changes to the court law and law on public broadcasters made by the new government. The delegation met with members of Civil Society, the constitutional court and the Polish Minister for European Affairs, Konrad Szymanski. The delegation was made up of S&D Group President Gianni Pittella, Vice Presidents Tanja Fajon and Joe Weidenholzer, S&D Bureau Member Péter Niedermüller and Head of the Polish delegation Bogusław Liberadzki. 

Speaking after the meeting with the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gianni Pittella said: 

"We stand along with the polish people. Europe is not a foreign power that wants to impose its own will. Europe is Poland and Poland is Europe. Together we represent a union of values and principles and not a club of interests."

"The changes made by the new government have caused real concern for citizens and civil society both in Poland and across Europe. We support the decision by the Commission and the Council of Europe to look into the new laws and the possible effects they will have on the rule of law. In my meeting with the Minister Konrad Szymanski, I made clear that Polish government should commit to following the recommendations of the Venice Commission in full." 

Bogusław Liberadzki, Head of the Polish Delegation to the S&D Group added: 

"Poland has made big strides in the last 25 years but that has only been possibly due to the existence of strong independent institutions and a robust and critical media. The size and speed of the changes of the changes proposed by the new government are a threat to this. The government must accept the recommendations made by the Venice Commission when it announces its findings. Meanwhile, we need to regain the faith of the Polish people and build a strong progressive force that can present a more prosperous future for the country."

 

Note to editors 

The full agenda for the visit can be found here.

MEPs involved