Poland and Hungary again challenged any mechanism linking the payment of EU budget funds to respect for the rule of law on Tuesday 13 October. The Scandinavian countries, as well as Belgium and the Netherlands, have, on the contrary, called for a strong mechanism of conditionality in the area of the rule of law.
These differences further complicate the work of the German Council Presidency, which is due to negotiate a final agreement with the European Parliament on Wednesday 14 October...