The European Commission's 2026 Rule of Law Report on Poland, published on 17 July 2026, finds some further progress on judicial reforms but highlights key setbacks, including the President's veto of a law to strengthen the National Council for the Judiciary (NCJ) and contested appointments. The report notes that 42% of the public and 44% of companies perceive judicial independence as 'fairly or very good' in 2026, up from 24% each in 2025.
The Commission's country chapter, part of the broader 2026 Rule of Law Report covering all EU member states, assesses developments in Poland across several areas. On the justice system, the President vetoed a January 2026 law that would have restored peer election of NCJ judges-members, deeming it unconstitutional. In May 2026, the Sejm appointed 15 judges-members under current rules, 13 of whom were pre-selected by peers. The Constitutional Tribunal granted interim measures blocking appointments by absolute majority. A revised draft law on judges appointed by the post-2017 NCJ is currently in Parliament. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on 24 March 2026 that irregular appointments do not automatically breach independence requirements. The President refused the promotion of 46 judges over past decisions.
On the Supreme Court, a draft law to restructure it into three Chambers awaits government adoption. The General Assembly elected five candidates for First President in February 2026, and the President appointed one. Limited progress has been made on separating the Minister of Justice from the Prosecutor General. No progress was recorded on lobbying rules or broad immunities for top executives, while work on a foreign bribery strategy continues. A draft bill on fair licensing procedures for media has been consulted, but concerns persist over the liquidation of major public service media. Legislative work is ongoing to amend the law on public benefit activities for civil society.
The report's bottom line indicates that Poland has made some progress on rule-of-law reforms, but the President's veto of NCJ reform, contested judicial appointments, and lack of progress on lobbying and immunities leave key recommendations unaddressed. The Commission's findings will feed into the broader EU rule-of-law dialogue and may influence future funding decisions under the conditionality mechanism.