First Vice-President Timmermans said that he was grateful to the Finnish Presidency for its leadership on the issue of the rule of law. He said that they had rightly concluded that without respect for the rule of law there is no European Union, he described this as the very basis of the Union. He stated that anyone who thought that Timmermans new portfolio for climate would mean an end to an era are absolutely wrong. He said that it was very clear that the President-elect von der Leyen's Commission will continue to pursue with the need to respect the rule of law my all member states. He said he left the role with increased optimism.
At Monday’s (19 September) General Affairs Council, ministers discussed the need to strengthen the rule of law generally, as well as the specific situations in Hungary and Poland.
The meeting was a chance for ministers to discuss the Commission proposal for a Rule of Law Review Cycle covering all the EU member states. Ministers were broadly supportive of a preventive mechanism for monitoring the rule of law situation in all member states.
The Council held a hearing under the Article 7(1) TEU procedure concerning Hungary. The hearing covered all the issues raised in the European Parliament's report drafted by Judith Sargentini MEP adopted on 12 September 2018. The report was very critical of the current situation in Hungary. It enabled ministers to have a more in-depth exchange with Hungary on the key concerns identified by the Parliament.
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