Around six months after an election which removed the country’s right-wing Law and Order (PiS) party from government, the Commission has said it believes there is “no longer a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland”.

The procedure which the Commission initiated under Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) in 2017 – seeking to suspend some of Poland’s EU membership rights – will now be closed, it confirmed.

It comes after the new Polish government, led by Donald Tusk, former president of the European Council, presented an action plan on the rule of law to the EU’s General Affairs Council in February.

Announcing the decision yesterday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today marks a new chapter for Poland. After more than six years, we believe that the Article 7(1) procedure can be closed.

“I congratulate prime minister Donald Tusk and his government on this important breakthrough. It is the result of their hard work and determined reform efforts.

“The ongoing restoration of the rule of law in Poland is great for the Polish people and for our union as a whole. It is a testament to the resilience of the rule of law and democracy in Europe.”

Věra Jourová, vice-president for values and transparency, added: “I welcome the positive trend of the Polish authorities aiming at restoring judicial independence and addressing other concerns related to the Article 7 procedure.

“While work needs to continue, the actions so far let us to conclude the clear risk of of a serious breach of the rule of law is no longer here. It is good for the EU and good for Poland that this procedure might be soon closed.”