Description
Added on the 21/10/2021 14:53:26 - Copyright : France 24 EN
During a press conference with Belgian PM Alexander de Croo and Polish Pm Donald Tusk, EU chief, Ursula Von der Leyen, announces that aid for Poland frozen over rule-of-law row has now been unblocked. SOUNDBITE
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says Poland will only receive the money from its 35.4-billion euro ($38 billion) post-Covid economic recovery package if it carries out rule of law reforms. She says the EU's approval of the plan announced on Wednesday is "important" but only "a first step, as the money will be disbursed when the reforms and investments are in place". SOUNDBITE
Eric Mamer, spokesperson for the European Commission reads a statement by Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in which she vows to firmly defend the primacy of EU law after Poland's highest court ruled that EU treaties are incompatible with its national constitution. SOUNDBITE
The European Union calls on Poland's right-wing government to suspend controversial reforms to the country's courts, expressing concern that they could undermine judicial freedom. SOUNDBITE
Images of Poland's nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, gathering in Warsaw as they are expected to loose the majority in the country's parliamentary elections. The opposition party Civic Coalition (liberal), along with the Third Way and Left parties are tipped to win 248 seats in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, according to an exit poll. IMAGES
People protest in Warsaw against Poland's abortion law, after the death of a pregnant woman. The country allows abortion only in cases of rape and incest, or if the life or health of the mother is in danger. IMAGES