In 2017, the European Commission triggered Article 7 of the EU Treaty (the "nuclear option") against Poland:
Without a mechanism for expelling a member state, Article 7 is the Treaty's most severe procedure and Poland had the dubious honour of being the first country to face the relevant proceedings.
Article 7 has two parts: Article 7(1), triggered by the European Commission in 2017 against Poland, a "final warning" to a state accused of violating basic rights, followed potentially by Article 7(2) which envisions sanctions and the suspension of voting rights.
Poland was reprimanded in this way for its series of judicial "reforms" perceived by the European Commission as compromising the independence of Poland's judiciary.
The Commission said that “the entire structure of the justice system in Poland, impacting the Constitutional Tribunal, Supreme Court, ordinary courts, National Council for the Judiciary, prosecution service and National School of Judiciary.”
Bodnar said today that he intends to convince a meeting of European ministers in Brussels that Poland is now fully committed to the reinstatement of the rule of law, "the plan of action the Polish people have been waiting for, the plan of action they voted for on October 15..."
Sources: PAP, euronews.com, X
pt