On Tuesday 14 December, the EU’s European Affairs Ministers took stock of the Rule of law situation in Poland and Hungary on the basis of the ‘Article 7’ procedures launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
According to the Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourová, it was important to look back at events in both countries since the last hearing on 22 June under the Portuguese Presidency.
And the situation in Poland has not shown any improvement, she said, with the country having “so far failed to take measures to comply” with two Court of Justice of the EU rulings and the Supreme Court’s disciplinary chamber continuing to operate despite the Court’s rulings. The Polish government “has not presented a concrete plan or timetable”, the vice-president added.
“There is a worrying trend of non-compliance with international obligations”, she also said, resulting in “harming” Polish citizens.
In contrast to the June meeting, however, the discussion was calmer, one source said, with about five to seven countries speaking for both countries on each occasion.
All stressed the importance of keeping these ‘Article 7’ procedures on the agenda of the EU Council, with the incoming French Presidency indicating that it would conduct formal hearings.
On his arrival in Brussels, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, had judged that the situation was a little more “positive” with Poland, notably on the ongoing reform of the disciplinary chamber of the Supreme Court, which could perhaps open the door to the release of recovery funds.
But in Hungary, there is “no will” to make progress on concerns related to the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office or public procurement issues, he said.
“On the Polish side, we feel a spirit of compromise is possible, not on the Hungarian side”, said the Frenchman. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)