The European Commission will require Poland to pay a fine of about 70 million euros for not abandoning the controversial system of disciplinary action against judges, Reuters reported, citing sources.

A spokesman for the European Commission confirmed at a press conference that he had received a final explanation from Poland about the dispute. 

The EU has ways to ensure that the fines owed from Poland are paid, he said.

January 11 was the deadline for the Polish government to tell the EC when and how it plans to liquidate the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court of Poland, which the EU Supreme Court ordered to suspend.

Warsaw has already refused to heed the decision of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, which then approved a fine of 1 million euros per day.

Two sources in the EC, said the letter was in Polish, so it needs to be translated before the Commission can give an official response.