During the EP plenary session (28/02-01/03 2018) in Brussels, MEPs debate on the European Commission’s call for EU governments to determine whether Poland is at a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values. MEPs express their concerns regarding the rule of law in Poland, the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and fundamental rights. Statements by Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&D, AU) and Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL).

Brussels

debate

plenary session

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

WEIDENHOLZER, Josef (S&D, AT)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

EU - Poland (T)

Commission decision to activate Article 7 (1) TEU as regards the situation in Poland: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, In a period of only 2 years 30 laws were adopted in Poland, the accumulative effect is to limit the independence of the Judiciary, separation of powers, the entire structure of the juridical system is affected.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, (Explaining 5 aspects of concern, this is point 4) The so called extraordinary appeal procedure that allows to re-open and overturn judgements going back 20 years, not on grounds of new facts but on grounds of social justice, this is unheard of in any Member state of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Yesterday the Commission got very strong support from an overwhelming majority of Member States in the Council, very vocal, very strong and urging both parties, Polish government and the Commission to continue the dialogue, to come with concrete solutions to the problem and we, again the European Commission wants that to happen.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), We are here because someone must stand up for the people of Poland, we are here because the authorities in Poland have shown little signs of moving, rather than work to improve the circumstances and start to rebuild the bridges they have built, the situation has even deteriorated further.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&amp;D, AU), Triggering article 7 in the case of Poland is not directed against the people of Poland. It is a last signal and it is against the government who neglects systematically European concerns. Concerns that are not developed by so called Brussels bureaucrats, it is a clear fundament in the Treaties, an obligation, a government who does not accept this is telling lies to its people. You may win elections but you put the future at risk. We stand fully behind the Commission in its triggering article 7.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), Every day that passes democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights are damaged further, so no further delays, because this is about the moral authority of the European Union in the world. People are watching us and asking themselves, will the EU rise in defence of its own values?

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), It is high time that we get a neutral objective mechanism for upholding the values of the European Union. This House has put forward a legislative initiative in 2016, we urge the European Commission to present their announced proposals for such a mechanism as soon as possible and not wait until the end of the year. (Applause)