Democracy is under threat, right here in our European Union. This week, during the plenary session of the European Parliament, we had three debates on fundamental values. It could be seen as a good thing to have the opportunity to debate our values, but unfortunately it’s not. The sad reality is that our core values are under attack in several of ours Member States.
European Union has now in its toolbox an instrument to take action when a Member State does not respect its engagements and its citizens. Since 1st January 2021, the Rule of Law conditionality mechanism is effective. Our group Renew Europe fought hard to get it. We have now to use it. If not now, then when?
“The Commission has to put the Rule of Law mechanism to immediate use, it was created for exactly this purpose. We need to use this instrument to defend EU’s citizens and EU’s budget from those that want to use the EU solely as a cash machine. We will not sit back and watch our hard fought values fall” said Dacian Ciolos, President of Renew Europe group.
Warnings and raising concerns are not any longer enough. The European Commission has to take a more courageous stance and assume its role as guardian of our Treaties and of the European spirit. When judges from the European Court are increasingly intervening to uphold the Rule of Law in several Member States, this should raise an alarm signal. We definitely shouldn’t leave only citizens and the judges in the front line of the fight against autocrats.
Renew Europe is asking one simple question : why do we wait to act?
We expect the Commission to uphold the law and act. If not, Renew Europe will make sure the European Parliament uses all its means to ensure the Commission will act.
For more information, please contact
Hughes Beaudouin
Mob : +32 473 400 129