BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Tuesday escalated its case against Poland over what it sees as democratic backsliding in the Central European nation, moving a step closer to a possible court case that could result in financial penalties for Warsaw.

Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, is pushing to overhaul the nation's justice system in a way that gives it direct power over the courts, saying it seeks to create a more efficient justice system. ...