Poland Could Leave European Union

Poland could end up leaving the European Union, due to plans by the ruling nationalists, for adopting certain laws affecting the justice system, Poland's Supreme Court said.

The court said plans could be contrary to European law and would exacerbate existing tensions between Brussels and Poland's ruling party, Law and Justice.

“Contracts between Polish law and EU law will, according to all likelihood, lead to an intervention by EU institutions for violating EU treaties, and, in the longer perspective, will lead to the need to leave the European Union”, Poland's Supreme Court said in a statement.

The EU has accused the ruling party of politicising the judiciary since it came to power in 2015.

The government in Poland says its reforms are necessary to make the judicial system more efficient.

Movements from Hungary and Poland to include courts and media under state control have prompted the EU's European Commission, the executive arm, to initiate law investigations, which in theory could lead to the suspension of their voting rights in the EU, follow.

Poland joined the EU in 2004 and public support for membership remains strong, despite disagreements between Brussels and the ruling party. So far only Great Britain has chosen to leave the bloc, following a referendum in 2016.