The European Commission must apply the Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism now or face legal action

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Date: June 10, 2021

The application of the Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism, which is Union law since the beginning of the year, is long overdue. In a resolution adopted today, we again call on the European Commission to fulfil its obligations under the regulation. If within two months they fail to take their responsibilities to act, the European Commission must be held accountable at the European Court of Justice. In this scenario, the European Parliament will immediately begin preparing for potential court proceedings under Article 265 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union.

Dacian Cioloş, President of Renew Europe, says:

”Failure to act is encouraging governments responsible for violations of our fundamental values to persevere with impunity. The Commission’s 2020 rule of law Report details the many infringements that justify the triggering of the conditionality mechanism. Any pretext for not acting undermines our credibility in the eyes of European citizens.The United States has recently imposed sanctions on European citizens and entities involved in corruption cases. If third countries can fight corruption in the EU then why can’t we?"

The EU's rule of law crisis needs be tackled head on. The time is up for those who profit from EU taxpayer's money, while rejecting the values upon which our Union was founded. Our message is crystal clear – the European Commission must act! Renew Europe will do everything in its power to activate this long – overdue mechanism.

The resolution instructs the President of the European Parliament, within two weeks, to transmit our demand to the European Commission; we urge for the President to do so promptly.

Katalin Cseh, Vice-President of Renew Europe and co-rapporteur of the resolution, summarises: "We simply cannot protect our historic EU budget from corruption if the European Commission does not apply the rule of law mechanism immediately. Not a few months from now, not after more guidelines are drafted, but immediately. The regulation is in effect since January 1, and we in Renew Europe will not back down until it is properly implemented. Viktor Orbán is desperate to buy time until the 2022 elections, but the European Parliament will not let him. Yes, we are willing to go to Court for this— our European recovery is on the line."

We have the Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism, and the provisions of the regulation are legally binding - so let us fully and immediately put it to use!

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