Poland: attacks on media freedom and the EU legal order need to stop

In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 502 votes in favour, 149 against, and 36 abstentions, Parliament condemns the continuing deterioration of media freedom and the rule of law in Poland. The vote took place one day after the plenary debate with Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, Commissioner Reynders and Minister of Foreign Affairs Anze Logar on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council.

Media freedom

Following previous occasions where Parliament has expressed its concern over the reshaping of the public broadcaster into a pro-government organisation, MEPs criticise “in the strongest possible terms” the ‘Lex TVN’ bill adopted by the Sejm. They describe it as “an attempt to silence critical content and a direct attack on media pluralism” that violates EU and international law. They are also alarmed that the state-controlled oil company PKN Orlen has acquired the Polska Press Group before the outcome of the Polish Ombudsman’s appeal against the Competition Authority has been announced. The editorial changes made by the Polska Press Group’s new owners, despite an ongoing appeal that temporarily “freezes” their rights, are also of great concern.

Once again, Parliament strongly condemns the smear campaigns against judges, journalists and politicians, including the use of SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation), initiated by government agencies and officials, state-owned companies and individuals with close ties to the government coalition. Parliament is already working on a report relating to much needed “anti-SLAPP” rules, MEPs underline, calling on the Commission to deliver on the Media Freedom Act and ensure the Audiovisual Media Services Directive is properly implemented.

Primacy of EU law and judicial independence

Although they welcome the Commission’s latest initiatives on the independence of the judiciary in Poland, quicker action could have helped avoid its continuous erosion, MEPs state. They are deeply concerned that the Polish authorities recently “deliberately and systematically violated rule of law-related judgments and orders of the CJEU” regarding the composition and organisation of the illegitimate ‘Constitutional Tribunal’ and the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court.

Parliament also reiterates that the primacy of EU law is a cornerstone of the European Union’s legal order, formally accepted by all member states. Accordingly, it calls on the Polish Prime Minister and the Prosecutor General to withdraw their motions, pending before the illegitimate ‘Constitutional Tribunal’, to review whether certain parts of the EU Treaties and of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to a fair trial) are constitutional.