MEPs debated again, on Monday 5 October at the start of the plenary session, the report by MEP Michal Šimečka (Renew Europe, Slovakia) on the creation of an Annual Monitoring Mechanism on the Rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy. They will then vote on the report on Tuesday 6 October.
A report that will respond to the “undermining of democratic institutions” observed in some countries, notably Hungary and Poland, said the rapporteur, recalling that the EU was, in its youth in Slovakia, synonymous with freedom and values and that the “images of my youth are now flouted” in some places. “The EU can do a lot more” in these areas, especially in verifying the application of these values, which is currently lacking, he added.
Unsurprisingly, the subject highlighted the divisions between the groups on this issue, with the left-wing groups, but also the EPP supporting the report which “will send a clear and strong message” to the EU Council, as Slovak EPP MEP Vladimír Bilčík said. “The EU must guarantee and protect its fundamental rights and judicial systems”, he said. But for the ECR or ID group, the report, which calls for an annual mechanism with specific recommendations to Member States, is seen as an “attack on the sovereignty” of countries, said MEP Beata Pemka (ECR, Poland).
In front of them, the Vice-President of the Committee on Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, and the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, supported in principle this report, which will therefore be added to their own annual report on the Rule of law in the EU27, the first version of which was published on 30 September.
The Vice-Chair acknowledged that this may be “too many instruments” and that “more appropriate instruments for each situation” are needed. That is why the Commission is going to propose, by the end of the year, another tool on the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, a plan to combat disinformation, but also a report on citizenship or equality.
“European values are not for sale” and “it is a good thing that this mechanism (the Šimečka report) is in line with the EU’s objectives of moving even further towards democracy”, said Ms Jourová. The result of the vote will be known on 7 October. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)