EU Commission Not Concerned About Poland's Possible Loss of Membership

The European Commission has no concerns that Poland would leave the European Union over controversial legal acts reforming its judiciary system, First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said Wednesday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Brussels urged Warsaw to halt consideration of the four contentious legal acts and return to rule-of-law dialogue on Wednesday, noting that the Commission's senior executives would address the suspension of Poland's voting rights next week.

"The shortest answer I could give you is 'no'," Timmermans told reporters in Brussels.

The European Commission urges Poland to put on hold four controversial legislative acts, including a draft law on the Supreme Court, and re-engage in rule of law dialogue with Brussels, the EC said in a statement issued ahead of Timmermans' briefing.

"The Commission urges the Polish authorities to put the new laws on hold and re-engage in the ongoing Rule of Law dialogue with First Vice-President Timmermans in an attempt to address the serious concerns expressed."

The Commission pointed out that Poland's acts "would have a very significant negative impact on the independence of the judiciary and would increase the systemic threat to the rule of law in Poland."

It added that the College of Commissioners addressed the possible suspension of Poland's voting rights within the European Union.

"The College of Commissioners agreed to revert to this issue in its meeting next week," the European Commission said.