Saryusz-Wolski: Poland will not accept the current mechanism concerning the rule of law

The proposed mechanism concerning the rule of law is a part of the European Union’s budget package for 2021-2027, which requires EU’s unanimity. Poland will not accept it in this form – said the Member of the European Parliament Saryusz-Wolski.

The agreement of beginning of November between Germany as the presidency country of the EU and the European Parliament assumes that European Council might activate the mechanism for assessing the rule of law compliance in the Member States which could be used to stop the EU funds to selected countries. 

The Member States would be able to make decisions about freezing the funds by qualified majority. 

MEP Saryusz-Wolski said that the acceptance of this mechanism in this form is ‘incompatible with the EU Treaty’. ‘This is an attempt to enforce some solution against European’s law with the hope that countries which are supposed to be first victims would be too afraid to use the veto considering the EU’s budget. This process is debated in the privacy of Brussel’s cabinets, under pandemic, when the European Parliament is closed and European Councils are in the form of videoconferences’ – said. 

‘We, as Poland, would not be risking much by using a veto. If the EU budget is vetoed, this year’s financial settlement is automatically prolonged for the time of finding a settlement. The current financial settlement in the EU budget is in favour of Poland’ – added MEP Saryusz-Wolski. 

On the 1^st of January 2021, Portugal takes over the presidency in the European Union from Germany. ‘Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa claims that the EU should give up the mechanism of the rule of law in the budget. Moreover, Slovenia takes over the presidency in July, whose Prime Minister Janez Jansza is a close ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Germany has seven weeks left and we can see that they are not able to finish the budget’s negotiations’ – said Member of the European Parliament. 

‘Polish government may quietly veto and wait till the end of German’s presidency. (…) Time in on Poland’s side’ – added.