EU official Tusk defends Poland decision

A European Union official says the bloc's decision to trigger proceedings against Poland that could lead to unprecedented sanctions stems from what he says are the Polish government's policies that put "authorities above the law."

European Council President Donald Tusk says that the conservative government has "practically liquidated judicial independence in Poland."

For Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, the worst and "sad" thing for Poland has already taken place. He said it was the ruling Law and Justice party's policy that "in a conscious way placed Poland across and maybe even outside" the EU.

A spokeswoman for Poland's ruling party has called the EU's decision "political," and says it has nothing to do with the facts about the steps that Poland is taking.