The EU has launched unprecedented disciplinary measures against Poland, saying its planned judicial reforms threaten the rule of law.
It said 13 new laws in two years have allowed the government to “interfere significantly” in the judiciary.
Poland has been given three months to address the concerns.
But the Polish conservative government called the decision “political”. It has said the reforms are needed to curb inefficiency and corruption.
The disciplinary measures, called Article 7, could lead to the suspension of Poland’s voting rights at EU summits.
But Hungary has said it would block such a move, known as the “nuclear option”, that requires the approval of all member states.
“After two years of trying for dialogue, of course we are frustrated that we haven’t achieved what we want to, so now we’re encouraging the council and Parliament to support us,” he said.
All member states will now be asked to decide whether Poland is violating EU standards. Such a ruling needs the backing of 22 out of the 28 states.
Any possible sanctions would only come at a later stage. But Mr Timmermans said that Article 7 could be revoked if Poland addressed the points within the three-month period.
The row underlines an escalation of tensions between western countries and eastern, former Communist countries within the EU, correspondents say. Other sensitive issues include media independence and immigration.
Poland’s governing party says the judicial system needs deep reform because it is inefficient, slow and has never been “decommunised”, in other words, communist-era judges and collaborators of that regime are still presiding over trials.
It is perhaps ironic then, that the party’s point man on judicial reform, the PiS MP Stanislaw Piotrowicz, is a former communist-era prosecutor.
According to a recent opinion poll, 81% of Poles agree the court system needs reform. They were not asked whether they agreed with the party’s solutions.
The public’s main grievances in order of importance were that trials drag on far too long, the proceedings themselves are too complicated and corrupt judges. PiS says its reforms would re-establish public trust in the judiciary.
On Twitter Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the reform was deeply needed and that “Poland is as devoted to the rule of law as the rest of the EU”.
He added: “The dialogue between the Commission and Warsaw needs to be both open and honest. I believe that Poland’s sovereignty and the idea of United Europe can be reconciled.”
the reforms
Mr Morawiecki, who took office this month, has said that the EU has taken a one-sided view and that his country is entitled to carry out reforms. The proposals have sparked street protests.
Following the announcement, a spokesman for the prime minister said talks could resume in January.
British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is due to meet Mr Morawiecki at a summit in Warsaw on Thursday, will raise her concerns over the issue, a spokesman said.
Kenya’s Dream City nightclub in Kisumu hit by deadly fire
At least two people have been killed in a fire which swept through a popular nightclub on the outskirts of Kenya’s lakeside city of Kisumu, police say.
The number of dead could rise as many people are feared trapped in the building, police told the BBC.
Fire-fighters were still battling the blaze four hours after it started on the first floor, local media report.
Police suspect that an electrical fault caused the fire at the Dream City nightclub, which also has guestrooms.
Rescue workers pulled out two charred bodies from burnt rooms, Kisumu county police commander John Kamau said.
Four people were safely evacuated from the building, he added.
Others escaped after jumping out of windows, Kenya’s privately owned Daily Nation newspaper reported.
The 12 guest rooms were fully occupied when the fire started at about 04:00 local time (01:00 GMT), it added.
