WARSAW — Poland did not meet the European Union’s deadline of Wednesday to respond to concerns about the country’s political crisis.

The European Commission earlier this month wrote to Poland criticizing the conservative government’s actions concerning the composition and functioning of the Constitutional Tribunal and set Wednesday as the deadline for a response.

The letter of some 20 pages was considered a warning for a recalcitrant EU member to address the criticism and prevent more serious steps from being taken, such as stripping Poland of its EU voting rights.

But a Polish government spokesman, Rafal Bochenek, said Wednesday a response should not be expected immediately.

Bochenek said a reply will be offered at a time when it is possible to show progress in the ongoing efforts by lawmakers to solve the internal conflict surrounding the tribunal. The lawmakers are working on three proposals, and a report on their work is set to be published by early July.

The European Union is concerned that the Polish government refuses to accept the appointment of some new judges to the tribunal and insists on making its own choices. It is concerned that the government, which took power in November, has adopted new rules for the appointment of judges and refuses to publish and implement some of the tribunal’s rulings.

The government’s actions have led to massive street protests within Poland, as well as censure from the European Union and a European body of constitutional law experts.

Associated Press