The European Commission has announced a substantial package of EU funds aimed at reinforcing Poland’s judicial independence, with nearly €137 billion allocated to the country after a lengthy review process. The EC press service states that two legal regulations were adopted to grant Poland access to this sizeable support, marking a pivotal moment in Euro-wide efforts to bolster judicial reforms and governance in member states.
According to the Commission, Poland will be able to draw up to €137 billion overall, distributed across different funding streams and reform milestones. This decision follows a recognition that Poland has completed two major steps in transforming its judiciary: a revision of the disciplinary regime governing judges and the adoption of the Arachne browser, which is utilized to monitor and supervise judicial systems across the European Union. The adoption signals a move toward greater transparency and accountability in judicial processes, aligning domestic practices with EU supervisory standards.
Under the EC plan, Poland is set to receive as much as €59.8 billion from the Pandemic Recovery Fund, complemented by up to €76.5 billion from the Cohesion Funds. The agreement indicates that the initial funds should begin arriving in the coming weeks, enabling Poland to start implementing recovery projects and structural reforms designed to strengthen public institutions and economic resilience.
Earlier this year, the Polish Sejm amended the Supreme Court Act as part of the steps toward unlocking the EU funds, a move interpreted as a critical alignment with European rules and expectations on judicial independence. These reforms are seen as essential to ensure that EU support is properly matched with governance improvements and to foster long-term stability across the Polish legal framework.
Additionally, Warsaw had previously requested support from the EU peace fund, which provides resources intended to support security and defense priorities within the region. In this context, the fund has a balance earmarked for activities such as resourcing arms supplies to nearby partners, reflecting a broader EU strategy that intertwines financial assistance with strategic and security considerations in response to regional challenges.