Poland's 'Police Bill' in focus as Venice Commission returns

The visit is the second this year by the commission, which is an arm of the Council of Europe.

Amendments passed in Poland's lower parliament on 15 January granted police greater surveillance powers, among other factors.

Three members of the Venice Commission will meet in Warsaw over the next 48 hours with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Chancelleries of the lower house of parliament and the Senate, the Bar Council, Poland's Ombudsman (Commissioner for Human Rights), the Special Services Coordinator and NGOs.

The commission is preparing an opinion on the Police Bill at the request of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The next plenary session of the Commission is from June 10-11, when the opinion is expected to be adopted.

Previously, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski invited the commission to Poland in the wake of controversy over reforms to Poland's Constitutional Tribunal.

The commission ultimately adopted an opinion on 11 March, warning that the rule of law, democracy and human rights were in danger in Poland as a result of the constitutional crisis. (nh/pk)