The Spanish Minister for European Affairs, Pascual Ignacio Navarro Ríos, expressed, on Monday 10 July, his hope that the EU ‘General Affairs’ Council would be able to adopt conclusions before the end of 2023 that would enable the dialogue between Member States on respect for the Rule of law to be maintained and improved.
To this end, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has sent the national delegations “a questionnaire” on their assessment of the annual discussion cycle on the Rule of law, in place since 2019, and asking them to submit “new ideas”, said Navarro Ríos at the end of the EU ‘General Affairs’ Council.
The ministers will continue their discussions on the future of the dialogue on the Rule of law in October.
The European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, also informed the Member States of the report on the state of the Rule of law in the EU in 2022 (see EUROPE 13216/8). The report provides “an objective and reliable basis for constructive debate” and helps to “promote a culture of the Rule of law”, he said, convinced that the recommendations made will be effectively followed up in the recipient country.
Anne Lührmann, speaking on behalf of Germany, welcomed the fact that this year “the Commission has not observed any further significant deterioration”, but called for vigilance in order to continue protecting the Rule of law. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)