Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

EU court begins hearing Hungary and Poland dispute over rule of law

EU court begins hearing Hungary and Poland dispute over rule of law

The European Union's top court has begun its long-awaited hearings looking at the bloc's so-called rule of law mechanism.
Last December, all 27 member states agreed to link respect for the rule of law to the access of EU funds. Hungary and Poland only agreed to this if they were allowed to challenge this new system at the Luxembourg-based court.

The new legal measure, or rule of law mechanism as it is known, is supposed to enable the suspension of EU funds for countries proven to be misusing them.

As Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield MEP explains though, this conditionality is only related to the misuse of European money, not to media freedom or the concentration of power.

"The recovery fund concern is about how European money is used. It's very simple. Good management of public money -- it's European money," Delbos-Corfield told Euronews. "The fact that all European member states accept together to be in solidarity and those that have more to give to those who have less, this means that we need transparency on how this money is being used. And also to ensure that this money is being used by the right beneficiaries."

Despite pressure from MEPs, who threatened legal action against the European Commission, Brussels has previously said it won't use the rule of law mechanism until the European Court of Justice approves it.

But if and when it does get the green light, it will likely be used soon against Hungary and Poland, which could result in cuts to their funding.

Warsaw and Budapest are already having their pandemic recovery funds held back over concerns about judicial independence and the fight against corruption.

The next step will be for the publication of an opinion on the rule of law mechanism by an advocate general, followed by the court's verdict itself.

There are no clear indications of when this could happen, but, given the urgency, the court is using an accelerated procedure.

On Friday MEPs once again called for EU action against Poland, in response to the country's constitutional court ruling the previous day, declaring some EU treaty provisions to be incompatible with the Polish Constitution.

The unprecedented challenge by a member state to the supremacy of EU over national law, denounced in particular by France and Germany, raised fears of a "Polexit" -- a Polish EU exit -- and brought thousands of Poles onto the streets at the weekend for pro-EU rallies.

Poland’s prime minister denied that his government wants to take Poland out of the European Union, or do a “Polexit,” taking to social media on Sunday to describe the claim as completely untrue, "fake news" and a “harmful myth.”

Mateusz Morawiecki stressed that all of Poland’s obligations resulting from EU law “remain in force.”
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Hungarian Parliament Approves Citizenship Suspension Law
Prime Minister Orbán Criticizes EU's Ukraine Accession Plans
Hungarian Delicacies Introduced to Japanese Market
Hungary's Industrial Output Rises Amid Battery Sector Slump
President Sulyok Celebrates 15 Years of Hungarian Unity Efforts
Hungary's Szeleczki Shines at World Judo Championships
Visegrád Construction Trends Diverge as Hungary Lags
Hungary Hosts National Quantum Technology Workshop
Hungarian Animation Featured at Annecy Festival
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
UK and EU Reach Agreement on Gibraltar's Schengen Integration
Israeli Finance Minister Imposes Banking Penalties on Palestinians
U.S. Inflation Rises to 2.4% in May Amid Trade Tensions
Trump's Policies Prompt Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment in U.S.
Global Oceans Near Record Temperatures as CO₂ Levels Climb
Trump Announces U.S.-China Trade Deal Covering Rare Earths
Smuggled U.S. Fuel Funds Mexican Cartels Amid Crackdown
Austrian School Shooting Leaves Nine Dead in Graz
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Low Turnout Jeopardizes Italy's Citizenship Reform Referendum
Transatlantic Interest Rate Divergence Widens as Trump Pressures Powell
EU Lawmaker Calls for Broader Exemptions in Supply Chain Legislation
France's Defense Spending Plans Threatened by High National Debt
European Small-Cap Stocks Outperform U.S. Rivals Amid Growth Revival
Switzerland Proposes $26 Billion Capital Increase for UBS
×