With her experience as outgoing Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, the Czech Věra Jourová, appointed as Vice-President for Values and Democracy, passed her examination before the European Parliament's Civil Liberties and Constitutional Affairs committees on Monday afternoon, 7 October, without too much difficulty.
Building on her five-year experience as a Commissioner, which has already led her to work on the issue of the Rule of law and judicial independence, the Czech has been firm on respect for the EU’s key principles, promising to “pursue [her] work in a completely independent manner” that is also pragmatic, and has refrained from promising MEPs things that cannot be achieved.
Mrs Jourová fielded many questions on subjects including the fate of the so-called ‘Article 7’ procedures currently concerning Poland and Hungary, future action against disinformation, and support for press freedom and the protection of journalists’ work; she was also asked about transparency, including access to EU Council documents and increasing the transparency of interinstitutional negotiations (trilogues).
She also expressed her opinion on strengthening the European system of top lists and on the possibility of developing transnational lists, a task entrusted to her by Ursula von der Leyen, on which she will begin working by studying “the best options”.
However, her comments frequently focused on themes that are obviously very dear to her: on the Rule of law, an area in which she will have to work with her colleague in the Justice Department, Didier Reynders, she promised to continue the work of Frans Timmermans, who she “admires [for] his actions, which have not been easy” and which were not “paradoxically a popular task”. “I will not be a second Frans Timmermans”, she warned, stating rather that she will address respect for the rule of law with her vision, her experience and her “knowledge of the region”, referring to the countries under the ‘Article 7’ procedure. Next spring, a full overview of the state of the Rule of law in member countries will be available, she said.
As for the ‘Article 7’ procedures as such, the Czech refused to say that they were not working, but rather that they allow for a continuous dialogue with the countries in question. The action of the EU Court of Justice is also key; therefore, the Commission will continue to use infringement proceedings.
Mrs Jourová also undertook to involve Parliament more closely in these Article 7 proceedings, particularly the one against Hungary, which Parliament itself launched, but in which it can no longer participate since the EU Council has taken up the matter.
“We need full participation from Parliament”, the Commissioner said, answering a question from the Greens/EFA group on the possibility of MEPs being heard directly by the EU Council on the Hungarian case.
A fund to help journalists defend themselves
Promising that she would do everything at her level to prevent the recurrence of murders of journalists, such as those of the Maltese Daphne Caruana Galizia or the Slovak Jan Kuciak, the Commissioner told MEPs that she would work on a European funding programme to help journalists defend themselves in cases of defamation or judicial harassment.
“I am very concerned when I hear politicians [speaking out] against journalists”, said the Vice-President-designate, adding that, in this area, “I will not claim that the Commission has executive powers, but I will see if there is funding” available to “help these threatened journalists”.
With regard to disinformation, the Czech explained that the action launched under the previous Commission would be continued and adjusted if not sufficient. Responding to many criticisms on the subject, however, she reiterated that the Commission had no intention of creating “a ministry of truth” or of applying censorship. “We're not going to decree what people can read or write. Do we want more transparency on the source of information? Is there a political campaign behind it? Who is financing it?” She reiterated that work would continue on the responsibility of social platforms.
The great project of transparency
The candidate also had the opportunity to return on several occasions to the transparency proposals she intends to make “as soon as this year”, in particular the creation of an independent ethics body to monitor how legislative work is done within the institutions. This ethical body would be intended to be “consultative”, said the current Commissioner in her personal capacity, but these contours will have to be determined. In general, all meetings with lobbyists should be recorded. On access to documents, proposals will also be made incorporating the European Ombudsman’s recommendations.
During this very dense hearing, other MEPs, including the French representative Anne-Sophie Pelletier (GUE/NGL), asked her about police violence, such as that linked to the yellow vest crisis in France, and about the right to life. On these two issues, the Czech quickly ruled out any possibility of intervention by the Commission, stressing, particularly with regard to the right to life, that “it is up to the Member States”.
Among the other issues raised, the Commissioner also committed herself to strengthening action on the fight against xenophobia and anti-Semitism. “I think this portfolio is about the soul of Europe, it is about people” and about “responses to the challenges facing Europe to make it more transparent, more resilient to digital threats and to defend the values we all cherish”, she said in her preamble. An act that she said she was - at the end of her hearing - ready to take on “with determination”.
At press time, EUROPE did not yet know the outcome of the coordinators’ meeting. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)