KG Legal KIELTYKA GLADKOWSKI is pleased to announce that one of the firm’s partners has contributed, as a legal practitioner from Poland, to the forthcoming 2026 edition of the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index®.

The World Justice Project is an independent, non-partisan and multidisciplinary organisation dedicated to advancing the rule of law worldwide. Its Rule of Law Index is one of the leading global sources of independent data on how the rule of law is experienced and perceived in practice. Drawing on surveys of the general public and of qualified legal practitioners and experts across numerous jurisdictions, the Index examines not merely the laws formally in force, but — crucially — how legal institutions actually operate.

The assessment encompasses eight fundamental dimensions: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, protection of fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice and criminal justice. These areas are evaluated through detailed questions concerning, among other matters, judicial independence, access to justice, the effectiveness and timeliness of court proceedings, due process, the practical enforcement of judgments and regulations, the operation of public authorities, and the protection of individuals against arbitrary or improper exercises of power.

Contributing to this project from the perspective of the Polish jurisdiction was both a privilege and a significant professional responsibility for our partner. Meaningful assessment of the rule of law requires more than an analysis of legislation or institutional structures. It also requires practical knowledge of how courts, prosecutors, law-enforcement bodies and administrative authorities function in real cases — and how legal safeguards are experienced by individuals and businesses navigating the system.

Together with the team at KG Legal KIELTYKA GLADKOWSKI, our partner works primarily on complex cross-border matters and remains actively involved in civil, commercial, administrative and criminal proceedings. This experience provides a close view of the practical operation of the Polish justice system, including cases involving international businesses, foreign investors and individuals from other jurisdictions seeking the protection of their rights or the resolution of disputes before Polish courts and authorities.

Poland’s position as a major European Union jurisdiction makes this perspective particularly important. Polish courts and public authorities are increasingly called upon to address cases with international, regulatory and cross-border dimensions. As the movement of people, capital, technology and business activities across borders continues to intensify, the predictability, independence, accessibility and effectiveness of the justice system become matters of significance not only domestically, but also for parties and institutions throughout Europe and beyond.

The rule of law is therefore not an abstract constitutional principle. It directly influences the security of individuals, the protection of fundamental rights, confidence in public institutions, the enforceability of contracts, the stability of investment and the ability of businesses and citizens to obtain effective remedies. Reliable, comparative research such as the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index helps transform professional experience and public perceptions into data that can support informed debate, institutional reflection and meaningful reform.

Our partner’s involvement in this initiative also reflects a broader professional commitment pursued as an active member of the American Bar Association, particularly its International Law Section: promoting the cross-border exchange of legal knowledge, practical experience and perspectives among colleagues from different jurisdictions. Such dialogue is indispensable. No legal system operates in isolation, and many of the challenges affecting justice today — technological transformation, international commerce, migration, regulatory enforcement and the protection of fundamental rights — require cooperation extending beyond national boundaries.

KG Legal KIELTYKA GLADKOWSKI is sincerely grateful to the World Justice Project for the opportunity afforded to our partner to contribute to this important endeavour. It has been a great honour to share practical insights from Poland and to support a project that strengthens knowledge and awareness of the rule of law worldwide.

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Artykuł Partner of KG Legal KIELTYKA GLADKOWSKI contributes to the 2026 edition of the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index® pochodzi z serwisu KIELTYKA GLADKOWSKI LEGAL | CROSS BORDER POLISH LAW FIRM RANKED IN THE LEGAL 500 EMEA SINCE 2019.

The holiday season is in full swing, but our litigation team remains fully alert — and fully engaged. The best proof: ongoing preparations for proceedings before the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg in one of the most complex categories of disputes — EU grant litigation.

What is the dispute about?

We represent a client — a beneficiary of a grant awarded under an EU framework programme — in a dispute with the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). At the heart of the dispute lies the allegation of so-called technology abandonment (departure from the technology) — the EU agency’s claim that, in the course of the project, the beneficiary departed from the technology on which the funding decision was based, which, in the Agency’s view, justifies a demand for repayment of the funds.

This is one of the most difficult and most judgment-laden categories of allegations in grant disputes. The line between impermissible “abandonment” of a technology and the natural — indeed expected — evolution of a solution in a research and innovation project is fluid, and where that line is drawn determines the fate of the entire funding. Disputes of this kind require navigating simultaneously the grant agreement regime, European Union law and the technological specifics of the project.

A direct action before the EU General Court

The dispute will be brought before the General Court of the European Union by way of a direct action based on the arbitration clause contained in the grant agreement (Article 272 TFEU). As part of the preparations, our attorneys-at-law have set up individual representative accounts in e-Curia — the mandatory electronic filing system of the EU courts — and stand ready to represent the client at every stage of the proceedings in Luxembourg.

What does this mean for you?

If your company is implementing, or has implemented, an EU-funded project (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator and others) and you have received a letter from an EU institution questioning the implementation of the project, an audit notification, a debit note or a repayment demand — you are not without recourse. Decisions and demands of EU executive agencies are subject to review, and beneficiaries have real legal remedies at their disposal, including judicial proceedings before the EU General Court.

Our litigation team combines experience in civil and commercial disputes with hands-on knowledge of EU law, the EU grant regime and the procedure before the EU courts.

Feel free to reach out — holiday season included. We are not slowing down.

Artykuł Summer holidays? Not for our litigation team. We are preparing a dispute before the EU General Court pochodzi z serwisu KIELTYKA GLADKOWSKI LEGAL | CROSS BORDER POLISH LAW FIRM RANKED IN THE LEGAL 500 EMEA SINCE 2019.