The former deputy prime minister of Poland, said that the decision by his country’s parliament to ban schechitah violates EU law.

Representing the European Jewish Association (EJA), a Brussels-based umbrella group, Roman Giertych, who is also a lawyer, said that because the parliament’s decision to
proscribe kosher slaughter was made on January 1 — ahead of an EU move to allow member states to adopt laws on minority rights without prior approval in Brussels — it was effectively
illegal.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Director General of the EJA, said that if the Polish government were to adopt this legal position, it could reinstate ritual slaughter immediately, without the need for further discussion in parliament or a ruling from the Constitutional Tribunal on whether the ban violates religious freedom.

“The decision adopted by the Polish parliament is not in accordance with the European Constitution. This requires the prior approval from the European Parliament for independent legislation which can harm the freedom of religion in one of the EU countries,” said Rabbi Margolin.