Poland won't get its money back after a previous, conservative government was hit by a record-breaking fine by the European Union for ignoring a court order to undo changes to its judicial system, an EU high court said Wednesday.

Poland's government at the time was embroiled in a row with Brussels over judicial reforms that critics said undermined the independence of Polish courts. The dispute had blocked billions of euros in EU funds to Warsaw and also triggered the fines.

Poland will not be reimbursed the €320 million in EU funds that it lost during its protracted dispute with Brussels over judicial independence. View on euronews

Across Europe, the tension between national sovereignty and EU legal oversight has been a recurring issue, especially in matters related to judicial independence and democratic standards. Several countries have faced financial penalties for policies deemed incompatible with EU law,