President Andrzej Duda has turned down a request from European Council chief Donald Tusk for a meeting amid concerns in Brussels over a controversial overhaul of Poland’s judicial system, Polish media have reported.

The 300polityka website reported that Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, was worried about a debate in the EU about Poland and offered to meet Duda, but the offer was rejected.

The Polish president’s chief of staff, Krzysztof Szczerski, said: “I can confirm that there was a request for a meeting. The president requested that Mr. Tusk be told that in his (Duda’s) opinion there is no room for intervention by the head of the European Council, no matter who is in this post.”

Szczerski added that Duda was “surprised” that EU institutions were eyeing Poland, “because everything is being done in accordance with the law.”

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told reporters: "Mr Donald Tusk’s job is to defend Poland’s interests in Brussels, and not to interfere in the internal or political process in Poland."

The European Commission on Wednesday said it was ready to take action against Poland for violating EU laws, warning that a controversial overhaul of the country's judicial system threatened the independence of courts.

Poland’s governing, conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party has said sweeping changes are needed to reform an inefficient and sometimes corrupt judicial system.

Poland's foreign ministry has said that European standards and the principle of separation of powers were upheld in proposed court reforms which have "prematurely" come under fire in Brussels.

Source: PAP/IAR