Ukraine Inspires Brussels-Warsaw Rapprochement, but Cash Still Stuck

But if Morawiecki believed the sense of unity coursing through the EU might move Brussels to release 36 billion euros in frozen post-pandemic recovery cash, he was wrong.

A month on, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, appears to be sticking to its guns, insisting Poland adhere to the rulings of the European Court of Justice, ECJ, concerning the independence of the Polish judiciary.

"Poland is now the bad guy and the good girl at the same time," said Jakub Jaraczewski, a legal expert at Democracy Reporting International.

"It has taken in over 2.5 million Ukrainian refugees, is punching above its weight diplomatically against Russia, and is exposing itself to credible danger by allowing weapon supplies for Ukraine to be ferried through Polish territory. At the same time, the Polish government continues to dismantle the rule of law in the country, harass judges and weaken checks and balances."

Hopes dashed

At issue is Warsaw's refusal to dismantle a disciplinary body that has been used to rein in judges on the Supreme Court, as per a ruling by the ECJ which imposed a fine of one million euros for each day that Poland fails to comply.

The Commission says it will not release the recovery funds until Poland acts in line with the ECJ ruling.

While dismantling the Disciplinary Chamber will not in itself solve the problems of a justice system that, as experts warn, has been heavily politicised, Brussels would regard it as a significant step forward.

Even before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the Polish government had shown signs of softening its stance.

Less than two years before the next general election, hit with inflation and soaring energy prices, the executive in...