European ministers for European Affairs on Tuesday 14 July approved conclusions on the evaluation of the annual Rule of law dialogue, reproducing word for word the text which, for lack of consensus, had been published in December 2023 as conclusions of the Presidency of the Council of the EU. As Hungary has since agreed to support this compromise, the Member States were able to approve it this time.
The document confirms the current format of this political dialogue and provides for a further evaluation of how it functions by the end of 2027.
According to the EU Council press release, these conclusions reaffirm that the annual dialogue is a “useful tool”, enabling Member States to have a space for constructive political exchanges as well as a framework facilitating the sharing of best practice and lessons learned from their experience.
They also recall that the principles laid down in 2014 are still applicable, notably objectivity, non-discrimination, equal treatment of Member States, an approach based on factual elements, but also respect for national identities and the powers conferred by the Treaties.
At the end of the ‘General Affairs’ Council meeting, the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, said that ministers had expressed “strong support” for the Rule of law dialogue. He also spoke of “a very strong political will to continue this dialogue” as well as a “renewed commitment to the rule of law”.
The previous day, in front of the MEPs on the Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE), he had described this adoption as a “powerful message of unity” and a “message of determination” (see EUROPE 13908/24).
The conclusions state that the format currently in force, which combines a horizontal debate and exchanges devoted to certain Member States, has made this dialogue “more result-oriented” and “better structured”.
The ministers agreed on the objective of maintaining a horizontal debate every year in the second half of the year and organising three sessions devoted to Member States, two in the first half and one in the second half, each covering four countries.
The text also confirms that these exchanges will continue to be based on the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report and that they will cover, at a minimum, justice systems, the fight against corruption, media pluralism and freedom, as well as other institutional issues linked to checks and balances.
In addition, the European Commission is invited to pursue its dialogue with Member States in preparing its annual report and to improve this procedure further.
The conclusions also provide that future Presidencies may organise more frequent exchanges with representatives of civil society, academics, social partners, journalists and local authorities.
They also underline that the ‘General Affairs’ Council could, where considered useful, devote discussions to certain horizontal themes linked to the Rule of law, before a new evaluation of the dialogue by the end of 2027.
To see the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/mvy (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)