19 July, 2017
If enacted, he warned, they would put the "judiciary under the full political control of the government" and make "the judges serve at the pleasure of the political leaders".
He said that the European Commission was planning to launch legal action against Poland next week.
Timmermans said triggering Article 7 - sometimes described as the EU's "nuclear option" - was "part of the discussion" on Poland.
He voiced further dismay at Poland's failure to address concerns over a separate bill adopted last week that gives the PiS-dominated parliament a greater say in the appointment of a council that oversees the judiciary. It was the latest in a string of conflicts over the policies of the conservative party, which won power in a 2015 election.
Debate was due to resume early Wednesday.
Under EU law, the Commission may determine "that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State" of the EU's fundamental values.
Timmermans had in recent months resisted pressure from European Parliament and other critics to move to sanctions, favouring continued dialogue with PiS.
On Sunday, thousands rallied Warsaw, Krakow, Szczecin and Wroclaw against reforms that were passed by the senate the day before, and more protests took place Tuesday in Warsaw.
Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has sparked protests at home and criticism from the European Union with its plan to allow parliament, rather than judges, to select the 25 members of its National Council of the Judiciary (KRS).
The second bill states that the justice minister will name the chief justices of Poland's common courts.
The European Commission urges Poland to put on hold four controversial legislative acts, including a draft law on the Supreme Court, and re-engage in rule of law dialogue with Brussels, the EC said in a statement issued ahead of Timmermans' briefing.
