brussels germany entry alongside france battle european commission poland rule law increase likelihood unprecedented eu action punish warsaw german chancellor angela merkel abandon usual public restraint last week criticize poland govern law justice pis party show european union executive firm back influential member may watershed moment dispute overhaul judiciary step take pis brussels say undermine democracy large ex-communist eu state poland risk reprimand procedures know article never use would deal heavy blow prestige deepen isolation bloc diminish ability influence eu policies much also stake eu row deepen divisions eu come term brexit failure act member see flout democracy could raise question determination defend core value much wish good relations poland neighbor always strive give importance tie simply keep mouth shut order keep peace merkel say berlin go foundations cooperation within european union decade join eu 2004 poland poster child bloc eastward expansion see faithfully uphold eu democratic value economy thrive relations deteriorate rapidly since eurosceptic pis lead former prime minister jaroslaw kaczynski long political foe european council president donald tusk power late 2015. commission open inquiry rule law poland january 2016 new legislation put power hand warsaw government move see brussels weaken democratic check balance main battle reform commission say undermine judiciary independence give justice minister discretionary power prolong mandate judge retirement age dismiss appoint court presidents another unprecedented development warsaw also ignore rule eu top court continue large-scale log ancient forest berlin let french president emmanuel macron take lead poland since take office last may say warsaw isolate shun poland close eu ally hungary recent tour eastern europe merkel seek fourth term chancellor election sept. 24 show concern speak poland last tuesday discuss poland last week head commission jean-claude juncker diplomatic source say talk include discussion quickly proceed row warsaw pis deny accusations commission western eu state political opponents poland right group erode democracy country 38 million people eu politicians make comment recently unjust poland want stress poland democratic country base rule law prime minister beata szydlo say video footage release last week film stand front polish eu flag say let allow particular interest particular countries overshadow chief current task guarantee security people continent commission option trigger article would mean ask 27 eu state declare pis put democracy risk impose sanction would require unanimity among member state hungarian prime minister viktor orban make clear would shield warsaw maximum punishment strip eu vote right commission deputy head frans timmermans say last week would propose open article poland start dismiss supreme court judge add close trigger article 7. also say brussels wait see proposals polish president andrzej duda make two judiciary laws include supreme court propose pis veto july two others sign comment indicate warsaw still last chance escape article 7. formal decision likely eu leaders meet brussels summit october early one eu official say article seem head add nobody like single member state like everyone sin create dangerous precedent go next one eu head toward tough action poland merkel join fray