ECJ ruling shows urgent need for Commission to launch rule of law action
Rule of law
Today the European Court of Justice has just rejected a complaint brought against the Rule of Law Conditionality regulation by the Polish and Hungarian governments. The rejection by the court reaffirms that the mechanism is in line with EU law and shows the urgent need for the Commission to finally activate the tool.
Terry Reintke, Greens/EFA MEP, shadow rapporteur for the Article 7 procedure for Poland and European Parliament rapporteur on the Annual Rule of Law report for 2021, comments:
“After this ruling, the ECJ has confirmed that the conditionality mechanism fully complies with EU law and is a legal act in the EU to be applied.
“We have all the tools, what is lacking is the courage and will from the Commission to take the rule of law crisis seriously. If the Commission tolerates member states trampling on the rule of law and fundamental rights, the very foundation of European democracy will erode. Unless the Commission finally acts decisively against the rule of law crisis, it will jeopardise the entire European Union project.”
“The Parliament should examine the possibility of postponing the discharge of the Commission’s budget, so long as the Commission does not trigger the rule of law mechanism.”
Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, Greens/EFA MEP and European Parliament rapporteur on the situation in Hungary, comments:
“The Court has only reaffirmed what we already know, but the inaction of the European Commission and EU member states is deeply worrying.
The conditionality mechanism has been adopted since last year but has still has not been triggered by the European Commission. Without the leadership from other EU member states, the ongoing Article 7 proceedings have been gathering dust.”
“Democracy has come close to a breaking point in countries like Hungary and Poland because of this inaction. So long as the Commission refuses to act, autocratic governments will continue their disastrous project at the expense of their own citizens. The Commission and Member States must take their role seriously and act immediately; be it on Article 7 or the Conditionality Mechanism.”
