The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Poland violated essential principles of European Union law by systematically disregarding EU jurisprudence, in a decision that revisits one of the most sensitive disputes between Warsaw and EU institutions over the rule of law. The ruling concerns a case dating back to 2021, when Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal openly challenged the primacy of EU law and refused to recognize certain judgments of the EU’s highest court as binding, arguing that they conflicted with the Polish Constitution.
According to the judgment issued in Luxembourg, by rejecting the authority of the CJEU, Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal breached fundamental principles such as the primacy, autonomy, and uniform application of EU law. The judges stressed that these principles form the foundation of the EU’s legal order and ensure that European law is applied consistently across all member states. The case was brought before the court by the European Commission, which argued that Poland’s actions posed a direct threat to the integrity of the Union’s legal system.
The background of the case lies in two rulings issued by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, the Trybunał Konstytucyjny, in 2021. In those decisions, the tribunal claimed that the CJEU had exceeded its powers by interfering in the organization of Poland’s judiciary, and concluded that certain provisions of EU treaties could not prevail over national constitutional law. Brussels interpreted this stance as a direct challenge to the principle of EU law supremacy, a cornerstone of the European project since its inception. At the time, Poland was governed by the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which implemented far-reaching judicial reforms.
According to numerous legal experts and international bodies, these reforms weakened the separation of powers by increasing political influence over the courts. The CJEU had previously ordered the suspension of several of these measures, citing serious concerns over judicial independence and the rule of law in Poland. In its latest ruling, the European court made clear that no member state may invoke its constitutional identity to circumvent shared EU values such as the rule of law, effective judicial protection, and judicial independence.
These values, the judges emphasized, are legally binding for all countries that choose to join the European Union and cannot be unilaterally set aside. Membership in the bloc entails acceptance of a common legal framework that takes precedence over divergent national interpretations. The judgment also addressed the status of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal itself, finding that it did not meet the requirements of independence and impartiality. According to the CJEU, irregularities in the appointment of several judges and of its former president undermined the tribunal’s legitimacy, reinforcing doubts about its ability to function as an independent court.
This aspect adds an especially sensitive institutional dimension to the case, as it calls into question the role of one of Poland’s highest judicial bodies. Following the change of government in Warsaw and the return to power of liberal-conservative Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Poland formally acknowledged the violations identified by Brussels and signaled its intention to fully restore respect for the rule of law.
Nevertheless, the CJEU deemed it necessary to rule on the substance of the case in order to establish a clear precedent and reaffirm the authority of EU law. The decision thus serves as a key reference point in relations between the EU and its member states, underscoring that legal cohesion and adherence to shared values remain essential to the stability and credibility of the European project.
