Economics
EU Sanctions Risk for Poland Rises on Democratic Backsliding
- European Commission cites ‘clear risk’ to rule of law
- Decision is first-ever recommendation to trigger Article 7
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The European Union called on national governments to discipline Poland for failing to uphold the bloc’s democratic values, recommending an unprecedented process that could lead to economic sanctions and stripping the country of its voting rights.
The European Commission said Wednesday the government in Warsaw posed a threat to the rule of law and recommended member states trigger Article 7 of the EU treaty. The process is unlikely to lead to Poland being shut out of decision making. But the decision -- backed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron -- underscores the erosion of trust between the EU’s largest states and some of its eastern members.