EU European Affairs Ministers will again take stock on Tuesday 11 December of the so-called Article 7 procedures of the Treaty on State Compliance in Poland and Hungary. They will also discuss the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027, one of the issues on the agenda of the European Summit to be held on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 December in Brussels.
The ministers will hear again the arguments of the Polish government during a new hearing. As at a first hearing on 18 September (see EUROPE 12098), the European Commission will be invited to explain how the country has responded to its various recommendations on judicial reforms launched in the country since late 2015.
The hearing, at which ministers will be able to participate by putting questions to the representative of the Polish Government, will focus in particular on the EU Court of Justice's order in Warsaw to suspend the Polish Supreme Court Act. This law led to the early retirement of several judges (see EUROPE 12121).
The discussions will include what the Polish authorities have done to comply with this provisional suspension decision.
According to a source from the Austrian Presidency of the EU Council, it was still too early on Monday 10 December to prejudge the next steps in the procedure. "This procedure existed before us, it should continue afterwards " but "everything will depend on what is said” it indicated Tuesday.
Hungary. The Article 7 procedure against Hungary was initiated by the European Parliament on 12 September (see EUROPE 12094). Budapest has formally challenged it before the EU Court of Justice.
On Tuesday, ministers will have an exchange of views on the arguments transmitted by the Hungarian government in response to the European Parliament vote and on the 'list' of infringement proceedings opened by the Commission against Budapest, such as the proceedings concerning Hungarian asylum laws or the law restricting the activities in Hungary of foreign universities (see EUROPE 12066, 11921).
MFF. The General Affairs Council will have a debate on the proposals on the post-2020 multiannual financial framework, in particular to prepare the discussion on this European Council dossier.
The Austrian Presidency of the Council has circulated two documents, a progress report (https://bit.ly/2B6IHGd ) and a version of the ‘negotiating box’ (https://bit.ly/2EcnvBB ). The latter document is a 'changing' text that outlines the main elements of the MFF, in order to prepare for negotiations and a compromise on the dossier.
The Austrian Presidency will present the Twenty-Seven with a progress report to feed the tour de table of EU leaders.
But, according to a first draft of conclusions, the European Council does not foresee an agreement on the MFF until autumn 2019. According to sources, even this deadline seems ambitious given the renewal of the European Parliament and the Commission next year.
Among the topics to be discussed at the EU summit is the British withdrawal from the EU after British leader Theresa May decided to postpone the vote on the agreement between her government and the Twenty-Seven (see other news) (see EUROPE 12145). Ministers will also discuss the European response to migration policy, including the EU/Arab League Summit scheduled for 24-25 February 2019. They will be informed of the citizens' consultations on the future of the EU that have taken place across the EU since spring (see EUROPE 12153). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic and Lionel Changeur with Mathieu Bion)