The European Union has ordered Poland to pay 1 million euros a day in law battle with the European body.
The fine comes as Poland fails to comply with the EU court order to suspend the disciplinary chamber of its Supreme Court.
The ruling came after the EU’s executive commission asked for “financial penalties” to ensure compliance with a ruling from July.
“The Vice-President of the Court orders Poland to pay the Commission a periodic penalty payment of 1,000,000 euros per day, from the date on which that order is notified to Poland and until such time as that Member State complies with the obligations arising from the order of July … 2021,” the ruling read.
In July, the European Court of Justice ordered the suspension of the disciplinary chamber, but it is still functioning.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told the European Parliament last week that the chamber will be abolished. But he gave no precise timeframe.
Observers have noted the absence of a draft law to abolish the disciplinary body.
EU nations have warned for years against the backsliding of democratic principles in Poland. When it comes to an independent judiciary and a free media.
The conflict came to the fore again at the beginning of the month when Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal ruled that Polish laws have supremacy over those of the EU in areas where they clash.
The EU argues that the Polish government has stacked the tribunal with handpicked judges.