Poland has applied for the suspension of fines imposed by the EU over so-called „rule of law” violations by the country amid concerns in Brussels over Poland’s system for disciplining judges. The move to file for the suspension of the fines was announced by Poland’s Minister for European Affairs yesterday.

In October last year, the Court of Justice of the EU fined Poland EUR 1 million a day to prevent „serious and irreparable harm” to the bloc’s legal order and values, according to a statement at the time. Poland was told to change its rules for disciplining judges, which Brussels said undermined judicial independence.

On July 15th, new regulations took effect in Poland under which a controversial disciplinary chamber within Poland’s Supreme Court was scrapped and replaced with a new Chamber of Professional Responsibility in a bid to end the standoff with Brussels.

Source – Polskie Radio

The remains of nine soldiers who took part in the defence of Poland’s Westerplatte peninsula against German forces at the start of World War II were buried in a state funeral on Friday.

The ceremony took place at the Polish Army Soldiers’ Cemetery in Gdańsk. The nine Westerplatte defenders, whose remains were discovered by archaeologists in 2019, were laid to rest alongside their commander, Major Henryk Sucharski.

Polish President Andrzej Duda led the tributes to the war heroes, telling those gathered that Poland’s 1939 defence of Westerplatte „is a symbol of people fighting to defend goodness” and „a symbol of great heroism”.

Source – Polskie Radio

Polish law enforcement officials say they have detained 44 people in a major operation against offenders sharing indecent images of children online.

The crackdown was carried out by Poland’s Central Anti-Cyber Crime Bureau (CBZC), the country’s prosecution service and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation Europol. Poland’s police chief briefed reporters on the results of the operation at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday.

After an intensive eight-week preparation, the crackdown was launched in late October, with 300 officers making 82 searches in 14 regions. As a result, police detained 44 people aged between 18 and 44.

Source – Polskie Radio

A unique exhibition has opened at the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk. The works on show have been made by local people who are living with disabilities.

The exhibition has been brought to life by a local foundation „Sprawni Inaczej” which literally translates as „Abled differently”. The foundation aims to work for the benefit of people with disabilities and to integrate them into wider society.

The exhibition is running until May 2023 and proceeds will go to supporting the work of the charity.

Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a rainy day in a gentle breeze and temperatures of 10 degrees centigrade (50 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and 4 degrees overnight. Tomorrow will turn brighter in a gentle breeze with temperatures of 11 degrees during the day and 4 degrees overnight.

Martin Caren/am