Senior official criticises EU handling of Poland’s Covid recovery plan

Frans Timmermans' comments reveal depth of concern about rule of law in central European country

A senior European Commission official has criticised a decision by his colleagues to approve Poland's Covid recovery plan, in comments that reveal the depth of concern about the rule of law in the central European country.

Frans Timmermans, a commission vice-president, who spent nearly four years leading EU efforts to safeguard independent courts in Poland, said the approval of Poland's long-delayed Covid recovery plan last month was incorrect".