Poland's President Andrzej Duda speaks during a news conference, after the European Commission announced its decision to launch Article 7 procedure, at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland December 20, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish President Andrzej Duda has signed into law two bills overhauling the judiciary, he said on Wednesday, in defiance of European Union criticism that the legislation undermines the rule of law in central Europe’s largest economy.

“I have taken a decision to sign these bills,” Duda said in a statement broadcast on public television.

Earlier on Wednesday, the EU executive launched an unprecedented action against Poland over its reforms of the judicial system.