BRUSSELS could be poised to declare Poland in breach of fundamental European values over its bid to exert political control of the judiciary, a European commissioner said yesterday.

Guenther Oettinger told German public radio station Deutschlandfunk that the commission would decide next Wednesday whether to take the step, the first of a two-stage process that could theoretically strip Poland of its voting rights in the European Council.

He said he “suspects” the commission will be prepared to take action.