Warsaw under fire over equality rules

“Mini-equality”, headlines Gazeta Wyborcza, as Poland faces draconian penalties for ignoring four EU directives on equal treatment in healthcare, education and employment. The Warsaw daily reports that the government stands to pay a fine of up to €260,000 for each day national legislation fails to fall in line. Although the government has drafted an appropriate bill, it is assailed on either side by the Catholic Church and by NGOs. The church argues that EU standards on equal treatment could make Poland vulnerable to “various, unspecified, forms of pressure” (i.e. gay marriage). NGOs, on the other hand, consider the proposed regulations don’t go far enough.