The EU is at war with itself now that the European Parliament has sued the European Commission in dispute over the rule law.
Today’s lawsuit was filed against the Commission for ‘failing to apply Conditionality Regulations to the Court of Justice’.
The EU has the power to suspend payments to countries where rule of law is at risk. This is currently happening in Poland.
Despite Poland’s crisis, the Commission has not used the regulation. There are also fears of a Polexit, as the country’s Supreme Court ruled that Poland’s laws are superior to EU diktats.
After submitting the lawsuit Sassoli, the president of the EU Parlament, said that ‘as requested in parliamentary résolutions, our legal services have brought an action against European Commission for failing to use the Conditionality Regulation to Court of Justice today.
The EU is at war with itself now that the European Parliament has sued the European Commission in dispute over the rule law. Pictured: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
“We expect that the European Commission will act in a consistent way and live upto what President von der Leyen stated during the last plenary on this subject.” It is essential that words be translated into actions.
The conflict over Warsaw’s compliance with EU democratic and legal norms continues between Poland and the Commission.
Ursula von der Leyen, chief of the Commission, stated that the EU executive will use “all instruments at our disposal” to force Poland to reverse decisions that are seen to be lowering democratic standards. This includes Warsaw’s actions that undermine judicial independence.
Last week, Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish Prime Minister, addressed the European Parliament in defense of his government’s position. He accused the Commission ‘blackmailing’ member states and trampling their sovereignty.
Last week, the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused the Commission of ‘blackmailing’ and trampling member state sovereignty
The issue dominated a summit of the EU at the end-of-last week. France and Germany tried to ease tensions through essentially kicking it down the road to December.
Until it can settle on the judicial row, 36 billion euros ($42 trillion) is being held back by the Commission in coronavirus recovery grants to Poland and loans to Poland.
It is also gathering evidence to support future possible actions against Poland, including activating a ‘conditionality’ mechanism as Sassoli refers to.
MEPs want that mechanism to be activated sooner, but von der Leyen’s Commission says it must work hard to ensure it prevails against a challenge by the European Court of Justice.
Sassoli stated that the Parliament would continue to hold the Commission’s feet to fire.
He stated that ‘We expect the European Commission (EC) to act in a consistent fashion and live up to the statements of President von der Leyen during our last plenary session on this topic’.
“Words must be translated into deeds.”