The European Commission is set discuss concerns with members over whether Warsaw’s ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has undermined democratic checks and balances, through its overhaul of Poland’s constitutional court.
It comes after tensions between Poland and the European Union reached boiling point as the commission this week ploughed ahead with legal action against Warsaw and Hungary over shirking their responsibilities under the EU refugee quota system.
The staunchly conservative PiS has been on a collision course with Brussels since it introduced sweeping changes to Poland’s institutions when it came into power in late 2015.
PiS denies it is undermining democratic standards in the largest ex-communist EU country but Brussels, along with many other member states, the Polish opposition and rights activists, has been sounding the alarm for months.
After German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered rare public criticism of Warsaw last week, the bloc is seen more likely to head toward an unprecedented punishment of Warsaw.
Three sources revealed the executive Commission will ask all EU states on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Poland again at a ministerial meeting in Brussels on September 25.
The meeting is not expected to trigger the so-called Article 7 punitive procedure yet but the discussion will measure the willingness of the other 27 EU countries to plough ahead with punishment.
At the heart of the dispute is shortly after they came into power, the Polish parliament rushed through a raft of legislation which critics said increased executive control over the constitutional tribunal, the highest court in the land.
Relations between Brussels and Poland are souring as officials attempt to stamp their authority over Warsaw who have not taken in any migrants since 2015.
But the Polish government claim they are being unfairly targeted by western EU establishments.