The European Commission will try to publish its first annual report on the Rule of Law in the EU “before the German Presidency” of the EU Council (second half of 2020), Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said on Tuesday 21 January. This annual report is part of the new mechanism on the Rule of Law called for by President Ursula Von der Leyen.
Speaking to the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, he hoped that a discussion on this first report, which will be “non-discriminatory” because it covers the Twenty-Seven, “will be held under the German Presidency”.
Promising that the report will not replace other tools such as offences or ‘Article 7’ procedures, which “will continue to be used”, the Commissioner explained that the report should, for the time being, cover a handful of themes such as the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers, the capacity to fight corruption and media pluralism. The report will be followed by recommendations.
The Commissioner said he was about to write to all Member States to start the preparation of this first annual report, asking them to set up “a contact point” to discuss the content of this future report.
During his speech, Didier Reynders did not go back over the various ‘Article 7’ proceedings under way against Poland and Hungary, as he felt he has already had the opportunity to express his views on these cases. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)