Poland will not get back any of the billion fines that were withdrawn from the country during the previous government's long-standing dispute with the EU Commission over the independence of the courts.
The EU Court of Justice rejected on Wednesday a Polish demand to write off at least parts of the fines. In total, the country was fined the equivalent of 3.6 billion Swedish kronor. When Poland refused to pay, the money was automatically deducted from Poland's EU contributions in 2022 and 2023.
A good reminder that the EU Commission can very well collect fines by taking it from payments, says Jakub Jaraczewski from the think tank DRI to the news agency AP.
Whether Poland's new government – which took office in December 2023 – will still appeal the decision is not yet clear.
