The European Union is propelling activity against Poland over claims that ongoing laws presented by the government undermine the freedom of judges.

The EU’s executive commission said Wednesday that it has sent a letter of formal notice — the initial step in lawful activity — to Poland and wants an answer tending to its worries inside two months.

Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans says that disciplinary measures for judges presented in 2017 show up “to systematically subject judges to the political control of the executive.”

Timmermans says the principles have “an obvious, chilling effect on the independence of judges.”

He says Poland gets an opportunity to clarify or change its mind about the laws.

The commission says it is acting to defend the standard of law in Poland.