100 MEPs from diverse political backgrounds mobilised on Friday 23 October to defend a strong mechanism linking the disbursement of funds from the EU budget to respect for the rule of law.
In an open letter, the Members regret that the European Council has considerably weakened the efforts of the Commission and the European Parliament and call on the German Presidency of the EU Council and on the Member States, in the context of their current negotiations, to defend a conditionality mechanism that “deserves this name” (see EUROPE 12525/5).
The signatories believe that any appropriate mechanism should provide for a clear and decisive process for determining adherence to the rule of law. This process should take the form of a delegated Commission decision which could only be overruled by qualified majority voting in the EU Council, they explain.
The mechanism should include, at a minimum, violations of the principles of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, and the member countries should also not be able to decide to postpone the agreement to a future EU Council meeting, according to the letter.
Finally, MEPs call for a system to allow European citizens, local authorities and businesses to directly access EU funds, if their government’s behaviour prevents them from receiving them through the ordinary channels.
“The rule of law is no matter of East versus West, no matter of frugals versus friends of cohesion. European democracy is a matter concerning all European citizens – let’s protect our shared values!”, they concluded.
See the letter: https://bit.ly/3mfZtIR (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)