MEPs adopted by 509 votes to 152 with 28 abstentions on Thursday 24 June the own-initiative report by Domènec Ruiz Devesa (S&D, Spain) on the Commission’s 2020 Annual Rule of Law Report (see EUROPE 12571/5) and ways to strengthen the monitoring of the rule of law in the EU.
Only one amendment was tabled by the Identity and Democracy group in the form of a resolution. It criticised the Commission’s definition of the rule of law and demanded that the conditionality established between the payment of European financial aid and respect for the rule of law be applied objectively (see EUROPE 12747/20). This amendment was rejected by 542 votes (147 for and 4 abstentions).
With the Commission due to present its second annual report in July, MEPs point out the shortcomings of the first exercise, starting with the fact that it does not cover all the values of Article 2 of the EU Treaty. They also want the Commission to consult them on the development of its methodology.
The report calls for “clear recommendations”, with appropriate follow-up, to be included in future reports so that they can “serve as a basis for deciding whether to activate one or several relevant instruments such as the procedure provided for in Article 7 of the TEU, the conditionality mechanism, whether to activate the Rule of Law Framework, or whether to launch infringement proceedings”.
The report calls for more in-depth, country-specific chapters with recommendations, possibly including timeframes and benchmarks. Differentiated reporting would be developed to distinguish systemic violations from other types of violations not related to the rule of law.
The report also refers to the deterioration of the independence of the judiciary in the EU, the undermining of the rule of EU law, corruption, and attacks on freedom of expression, notably in Poland and Hungary.
Link to the report: https://bit.ly/3wWEz7f (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)