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Poland wants to stay in EU despite court ruling

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Friday said that Poland wanted to stay in the European Union, a day after a landmark court ruling that experts said could instead lead to "Polexit".

World • 08 Oct 21

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said justice systems across the EU must be independent and fair (File image, Getty)

EU asks court to fine Poland over judicial independence

The European Commission has asked Europe's highest court to impose daily fines on Poland, as the confrontation between Brussels and Warsaw over the country's alleged undermining of the rule of law intensifies.

World • 07 Sep 21

Poland could face financial penalties if it fails to comply with the EU ruling

Poland to dismantle disciplinary chamber for judges

Poland will dismantle a judges' disciplinary chamber as part of wider judiciary reforms incoming months, the government said after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the disciplinary mechanism undercuts EU law.

Europe • 17 Aug 21

A 'free media' protest in the southern Polish town of Wadowice earlier this week

Polish PM rejects criticism of media and property bills

Poland's Prime Minister has rejected criticism of bills on media ownership and property restitution passed by parliament.

Europe • 12 Aug 21

Polish MPs attend a parliamentary debate on the new media law

Polish parliament votes in favour of media reform bill

Polish lawmakers have voted in favour of a bill that the opposition says aims to silence a US-owned news channel critical of the government, setting up a clash with one of Warsaw's most important allies.

World • 11 Aug 21

The Polish law came into force last year

Polish judicial reform 'not compatible' with EU law

The European Union's top court has ruled that Poland's system for disciplining judges is not compatible with the bloc's laws.

World • 15 Jul 21

Donald Tusk served as prime minister of Poland between 2007 and 2014

Former EU chief Tusk returns to Polish opposition role

Former EU chief Donald Tusk has returned to frontline politics against Poland's governing right-wing populists, taking over as acting head of the opposition Civic Platform party.

World • 03 Jul 21

Travellers from EU countries with coronavirus rates below 500 cases per 100,000 residents can make 'all types of visits to Portugal' from Monday

Portugal to begin reopening to EU tourists from Monday

Portugal is to resume admitting tourists from most European countries on Monday, the interior ministry said, following months of restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Coronavirus • 15 May 21

A full ruling from the European Court of Justice is expected in the coming weeks

Court finds Polish judicial reforms go against EU law

A contested reform in Poland concerning disciplinary cases involving judges goes against European Union law, the advocate general of the European Court of Justice said on Thursday.

World • 06 May 21

Pepco owns Dealz in Ireland and Europe and Poundland in the UK

Dealz owner picks Warsaw over London for Pepco listing

South African conglomerate Steinhoff will list shares in its Pepco Group discount retailer business in Warsaw rather than London, in what could become Poland's biggest initial public offering (IPO) this year.

Business • 26 Apr 21

Aviva agrees deal to sell its Polish operations to Allianz

Aviva sells Polish business to Allianz for €2.5 billion

Aviva has sold its Polish operations to Germany's Allianz for €2.5 billion in cash, completing a programme to sell European and Asian assets begun last year, the British insurer said today.

Business • 26 Mar 21

JD Sports Fashion said last month it was targeting further acquisitions after raising £464m in an equity issue

JD Sports enters eastern Europe with MIG deal

Sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion has entered markets in central and eastern Europe by agreeing to buy 60% of Poland's Marketing Investment Group (MIG), it said today.

Business • 12 Mar 21

Felling would not occur in areas of forest that are more than 100 years old

Poland to resume logging in ancient Bialowieza forest

Poland is to resume some logging in the ancient Bialowieza forest this year, according to documents signed by a government minister, in a move one environmental group called a "spit in the face".

Europe • 09 Mar 21

CD Projekt said that adapting Cyberpunk 2077 to the older-generation consoles was a bigger challenge than had been predicted

CD Projekt says it is focusing on fixing Cyberpunk 2077

Polish video game maker CD Projekt is focusing on improving Cyberpunk 2077 and restoring the trust of players and partners disappointed with its flagship game, Puls Biznesu daily reported the group's CEO as saying.

Business • 08 Feb 21

People taking part in a demonstration against the abortion ban law, in Warsaw, Poland, on 20 January

Poland to implement near total ban on abortion

A controversial Polish court ruling that imposes a near total ban on abortion is coming into force today, the government said, in an announcement expected to spark major protests.

World • 27 Jan 21

The Italian government is considering more stringent nationwide rules for the Christmas and New Year holidays

Italian PM warns more restrictions needed at Christmas

Italy's government will need to impose new restrictions during the holiday season to rein in contagion and avoid a third, devastating wave of the coronavirus, the prime minister has said in an interview.

Coronavirus • 15 Dec 20

The measures would ensure basic reciprocal air and road connectivity between the EU and the UK - and allow for the possibility of reciprocal fishing access

EU Commission publishes back-up plan for no-deal Brexit

The European Commission has set out contingency measures aimed at coping with the disruption if no trade deal can be agreed with the UK.

Brexit • 10 Dec 20

People attend pro-EU rally in Krakow earlier in the week

Polish Senate leader warns against 'Polexit'

The head of the Polish Senate has urged the country's government to drop its threat to veto the EU's budget, warning that it could lead to Poland's exit from the EU.

World • 27 Nov 20

Hungary and Poland blocked approval yesterday of the EU's long-term budget and coronavirus rescue

Poland expects concessions after vetoing EU budget

Poland expects Brussels to offer it new proposals to find a way out of stalemate after the country joined Hungary in vetoing the European Union's €1.8 trillion budget, a government spokesman said.

World • 17 Nov 20

Organisers and the city of Warsaw said some 100,000 people took part, one of the largest protest gatherings in years

Major protests in Poland against abortion ruling

Tens of thousands of Poles joined a march in Warsaw last night, the biggest in nine days of protests against a ruling by the country's top court last week that amounted to a near-total ban on abortion in the predominantly Catholic nation.

World • 01 Nov 20

Huge rallies have been taking place in both more liberal urban areas and traditionally conservative smaller towns

Polish women go on strike over near-total abortion ban

Women in Poland have walked off the job and hit the streets nationwide, the seventh straight day of mass protests over a court ruling to impose a near-total abortion ban in Poland.

World • 28 Oct 20

A spokesperson for Polish President Andrzej Duda said he is 'fine'

Poland's president tests positive for coronavirus

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus, an aide has said, as the country faces a record rise in cases.

Coronavirus • 24 Oct 20

The verdict, which is final and cannot be appealed, drew immediate condemnation from the Council of Europe

Outcry after Polish court allows stricter abortion law

Poland's constitutional court struck down a provision of the country's abortion legislation, allowing what is already one of Europe's most restrictive laws to be further tightened and provoking outcry from rights groups.

World • 22 Oct 20

The Polish navy crews defused the bomb in 12 metres of water

Polish divers neutralise huge WWII bomb

Polish military divers have defused a massive World War II bomb discovered at the bottom of a channel near the Baltic Sea, the navy said.

World • 13 Oct 20

With 859 cases per 100,000 people the Madrid region is the worst Covid-19 hotspot in Europe

Madrid to close borders for almost 5 million residents

Madrid's regional authorities will publish a decree later today to put the Spanish capital and nine nearby towns under partial lockdown, with immediate effect, a source from Madrid's regional government has said.

Coronavirus • 02 Oct 20

Poland