Exclusive-Poland needs time to fix judiciary before EU money flows, says EU official

FILE PHOTO: European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders addresses the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, France September 15, 2021. REUTERS/Yves Herman/Pool/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Poland's new government needs "some time" to improve the independence of the judiciary so the European Union can disburse more funds, the bloc's top justice official said as Warsaw vows to restore the rule of law and seeks billions in handouts.

Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with the EU's chief executive on Friday and announced that the bloc would transfer a first 5 billion euros ($5.5 bln) of aid that was until now mostly frozen over democratic backsliding.