Polish PM accuses EU of blackmail as row over rule of law escalates - BBC News

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has accused the EU of blackmail in a heated debate with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen over the rule of law.

The clash in the European Parliament follows a top Polish court ruling that rejected key parts of EU law.

The latest row has come to a head over an unprecedented and controversial ruling by Poland's Constitutional Tribunal that in effect rejects the core principle that EU law has primacy over national legislation.

The case, brought by the Polish prime minister, was the first time that an EU member state's leader had questioned EU treaties in a national constitutional court.

On Tuesday, Mrs von der Leyen told the European Parliament that the European Commission - the EU's executive - was "carefully assessing this judgement".

She said the situation had to be resolved, but she was adamant: "This ruling calls into question the foundations of the European Union.

Vowing to take action, Mrs von der Leyen set out three ways the European Commission could respond to the Polish court judgement.

The options, she said, were legally challenging the court ruling, withholding EU funds and suspending some of Poland's rights as a member state.

"Blackmail must not be a method of policy," said Mr Morawiecki of Poland's ruling conservative-nationalist Law and Justice party.

Mr Morawiecki said the Polish court ruling on 7 October had been misunderstood and only questioned one area of EU treaties.

The Polish court ruling and the European Commission's response to it has divided opinion among the political leaders of EU member states.

But Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said linking issues about the rule of law to funding risked inflicting "unimaginable harm to European Union unity".

"We should not be spreading lies about Polish Polexit," he told the European Parliament.

Mateusz Morawiecki clashes with EU leaders over a Polish court ruling that rejected parts of EU law?