[Opinion]: How to fix Europe’s ‘rule of law’ blindspot

The author supports a German proposal from May 2017 linking eligibility for EU funding to compliance with the rule of law. Freezing funding to misbehaving members will arm the European Union to withstand authoritarian assaults on democracy.

During 2017 there was concern by some that policies by the governments of Hungary and Poland were conflicting with the EU Framework to strengthen the rule of law.

Michael Meyer-Resende is the executive director of Democracy Reporting International.

European Commission: Justice: Effective justice: Rule of law http://ec.europa.eu/justice/effective-justice/rule-of-law/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Rule of Law: Commission issues recommendation to Poland, July 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/rule-of-law-commission-issues-recommendation-to-poland/

European Parliament: Press Release, 17.05.17: Fundamental rights in Hungary: MEPs call for triggering Article 7 http://www.europeansources.info/record/fundamental-rights-in-hungary-meps-call-for-triggering-article-7/

ESO: Background information: Debate with Commission's First Vice-President on rule of law in Poland, March 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/debate-with-commissions-first-vice-president-on-rule-of-law-in-poland/

ESO: Background information: Poland has a problem — with Frans Timmermans http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-has-a-problem-with-frans-timmermans/

ESO: Background information: Strengthening the Rule of Law in Europe. From a Common Concept to Mechanisms of Implementation (Hart Publishing, 2016) http://www.europeansources.info/record/strengthening-the-rule-of-law-in-europe-from-a-common-concept-to-mechanisms-of-implementation/

Politico, 30.05.17: Berlin looks into freezing funds for EU rule-breakers http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-rule-of-law-europe-germany-berlin-looks-into-freezing-funds-for-eu-rule-breakers/

Radio Poland, 31.05.17: Polish Deputy FM: freezing funds for EU members over rule of law ‘unlikely’ http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/309516,Polish-Deputy-FM-freezing-funds-for-EU-members-over-rule-of-law-%E2%80%98unlikely%E2%80%99

Democracy Reporting International: Poland http://democracy-reporting.org/?country=poland

Democracy Reporting International: Infographic: EU Commission Responses to Rule of Law Crises in Member States, January 2016 http://democracy-reporting.org/?dri_publications=infographic

Democracy Reporting International: Publication: 5 Facts on the State of Hungary’s Democracy, March 2017 http://democracy-reporting.org/?dri_publications=5-facts-on-the-state-of-hungarys-democracy

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 19.07.17: Judy Asks: Does the EU Have the Right Policy for Hungary and Poland? http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/71580?lang=en

ESO: Background information: Poland wants to put its courts on trial / Is Polish justice getting too close to government? / EU remains silent as Poland’s government assaults top court / Poland's government seeks total control of the court system http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-wants-to-put-its-courts-on-trial-is-polish-justice-getting-too-close-to-government-eu-remains-silent-as-polands-government-assaults-top-court-polands-government-seeks-total-con/

---