Adam Bodnar was speaking as ministers from Poland and Germany held bilateral talks in Warsaw on Tuesday.

These so-called intergovernmental consultations, the first of their kind since 2018, heralded a fresh page in relations between the neighboring countries. Ties were heavily strained under Poland’s previous right-wing, populist administration, which was accused by critics of democratic backsliding and violating the constitution.

During Tuesday’s talks, Bodnar “thanked Minister Marco Buschmann and the German government for supporting efforts to restore the rule of law and constitutional order in Poland,” the justice ministry in Warsaw said.

The ministry also highlighted the importance of developing bilateral cooperation between justice bodies.

Germany 'inspired by Polish reforms'

“As Minister Buschmann remarked, Germany is devoting its attention to Poland's ongoing process of restoring the rule of law and constitutional order,” the ministry in Warsaw wrote.

It added that ongoing discussions in Germany about amending the country’s constitution concerning the Federal Constitutional Court were inspired by Polish reforms.

Buschmann wrote on X: “Poland is not just a neighbor to Germany, but a friend.”

Nach sechs Jahren fanden heute in Warschau erstmals wieder deutsch-polnische Regierungskonsultationen statt. Polen ist für Deutschland nicht nur ein Nachbar, sondern ein Freund. 🇵🇱🇩🇪 https://t.co/UeGP5l7TdZ

— Marco Buschmann (@MarcoBuschmann) July 2, 2024

Bodnar and Buschmann also discussed strengthening the justice systems in both Poland and Germany, the role of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) following Poland joining the body, and bilateral and international support for Ukraine.