On 2nd October 2019, Didier REYNDERS, from Belgium, Commissioner-designate for Justice, is heard by the Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and on Legal Affairs (JURI) in association with the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament in Brussels to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. On this occasion, Didier REYNDERS has the opportunity to make an opening statement. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Hearing of Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Opening statement by Didier REYNDERS

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Thank you very much, Chairs, Members of Parliament. I am very happy to be here to introduce myself to you this morning. It's nice to see so many familiar faces. I would like to talk to you today about how we're going to work together in the future if you put your trust in me within the framework of the mandate given to me by the president elect Mrs. von der Leyen. She has asked me to lead the Commission's work on rule of law justice and consumer protection.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: As you know I am a former Member of Parliament and I have a deep respect for the role of the European Parliament. I think there is real value in your contribution to the European project. Let me begin my comments by a couple of thoughts of a more personal nature. The first which is very important to me is Europe's place in the world. Twenty years ago when I became minister for the first time Europe was divided it was trying to tackle the impact of the fall of the Wall. Over the last 20 years many things have changed and we can be proud and happy, I think, of what we have achieved in Europe.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: We are carrying out policies and adopting legislation for the well-being of our citizens while the fighting over territory. We have preserved our diversity through our cultures and languages. If I am confirmed as European Commissioner, I make a commitment to work with you in order to deepen European integration. I amongst those who want more and better Europe. If we want to have influence on the world stage in these changing times the only way we can do this is by being united. The reality that we face is that the world around us is ever more divided and unstable.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: The values we hold dear are threatened by those who want to go back to a more nationalist discourse, a more populist discourse that should belong in the past. Our values are threatened by nations that want to dominate rather than cooperate. Our main goal is to try and protect what the European Union has achieved peace security and well-being. We also need to promote our common values our support for multilateral institutions and sustainable growth and social progress. We should be determined when it comes to defending the rule of law democracy and our fundamental rights. That means we need to do the same within the heart of the European Union as well.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: My second thought is even more personal to me. On Saturday the 14th of September I learned that serious accusations had been made against me by a person who was deliberately trying to damage my reputation. This person publicly stated that they wanted to stop me becoming European Commission. I denied all the allegations that appeared in the press. My lawyers go in contact with the prosecutors to have access to the file within this information procedure. On the twenty seventh of September the Crown Prosecutor in full agreement with the public prosecutor dismissed the case as there was no evidence of any wrongdoing. My lawyer will deal with the new allegations made by the same person in the same way.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: All of us unfortunately can be at risk of such malicious allegations and I wouldn't wish on anybody what my family, those close to me my children, my spouse have had to experience over these last 15 days. The rule of law also means the presumption of innocence. And I just want to be very clear with you about this particular matter.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Ladies and gentlemen, exactly 20 years ago in October 1999, Antonio Vittorino was named the first commissioner who had the portfolio of Justice and Home Affairs. I would just like to pay tribute to him as well as his successors particularly Mrs. Vera Jourova and Mr. Frans Timmermans for their courage and determination. If I become commissioner I will work very closely with them. I am delighted to have been put forward as president elect to be the commissioner designate for justice as well as consumer protection and respect of the rule of law. These three facets of the mandate are closely linked. They are built around the guiding principles of trust inclusion and fairness. These will be key to these different policies and will guide my actions.

SOUNDBITE (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: As for the rule of law I believe that we must protect our values outside of Europe. We must uphold them inside Europe as commissioner for justice. I will work with the vice president for values and transparency to ensure that the rule of law is upheld across the union. I will work closely with the commissioner in charge of neighbourhood and enlargement to ensure the consistency of the internal and external rule of law approach. This task is close to my heart. As Minister of Foreign affairs and European affairs, I have called for a more active commitment of the European Union to protect and promote the rule of law. This is a prerequisite for all values. There can be no democracy and no respect for fundamental rights without respect for the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE  (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Fundamental rights are effective only if they are protected by independent courts. Democracy is protected only if courts can ensure the respect of the freedom of expression, media pluralism and electoral rules. The rule of law creates mutual trust. So important for all internal market. Most importantly respect for the rule of law is essential to ensure citizens trust in the European project. Our responsibility is to preserve the rule of law in each and every member state. A number of ideas have been presented including by this House to give us the tools to deepen this work. In July the Commission presented its proposals for a comprehensively open the rule of law mechanism. I will promote a rule of law culture, prevent the development of rule of law concerns and respond when necessary.

SOUNDBITE  (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: I will lead this work and want to see this new mechanism up and running next year with an inclusive non-discriminatory and preventive annual process. This will lead to an annual report and be back up by the Justice scoreboard. We must use all the tools at our disposal. The monitoring will cover all member states but will go in more depth in member states where particular risks have been identified. I will pay particular attention to ensure the objectivity and fairness of this monitoring and how we build dialogue and ensure that we share best practice to help member states. It is essential that the Parliament and the Council are fully involved. We also need to coordinate better with national parliaments. We have the same aims and ideals. Trust me I will not hesitate to act whenever the rule of law is in danger. I will not compromise when democracy is at stake.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Members of Parliament. Adapting our judicial systems to the changes we are seeing is a major priority for the decade to come. We need to strengthen cooperation in civil and criminal matters. European citizens have the right to live and work in the EU with the full respect of freedom of movement. It's also about respecting diversity but guaranteeing on different legal traditions at the same time. But there should not be a hindrance to our freedom or our security. I will work to build an atmosphere of trust between our different legal systems.

SOUNDBITE  (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Concerning the European arrest warrant, I will continue to monitor its application and work closely with you and with member states to continue to improve it. We need to take a careful look at what needs to be done after the comprehensive assessment now underway. We will consider whether infringement proceedings are necessary in light of the compliance assessment. I will also seriously consider whether to bring forward a proposal to revise the European Arrest Warrant. I will also look into how prison conditions in the Union could be improved and I would explore the idea of establishing minimum standards for pre-trial detention in order to strengthening trust.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: One immediate task will be to make the European Public Prosecutor's Office operational as soon as possible. And I welcome your role in getting an agreement on the public prosecutor. I recently was in contact with Mrs. Kövesi and I'm sure she will be doing a very good job. It is important for us to incorporate new technology so that we can modernize our legal systems. That's a major challenge. This is going to help us create a more effective legal system one that is more accessible to our citizens. We have to ensure that the law is respected but also that fundamental rights are respected.

SOUNDBITE  (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Europe is a world leader when it comes to data protection and respect of fundamental rights. One of my priorities will be to ensure that these fundamental rights are fully protected in the digital era. I will work closely with you in order to find the right balance here. We need to make sure that the new legal framework for data protection is fully implemented and at the same time continue to promote our values and our standards on the world stage. I will work with my colleagues on a coordinated approach when it comes to looking at the human and ethical implications of artificial intelligence. I look forward to the new possibilities opened up by these new technologies but trust and safety have to remain our main priorities here.

SOUNDBITE  (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Inclusion and fairness drive my approach to consumer protection. We can rightly be proud of the level of protection in Europe. We should not be complaisant. We must continue to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing environment and new technologies off line and online. Our task is to work for fairness and sustainability in society for the efficient functioning of the single market. This means looking more closely at both the supply and demand sides of the business and consumer models. Company Law can be a key tool to promote the shift to a sustainable economy.

SOUNDBITE  (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Consumers should be fully empowered, properly informed and encouraged to make sustainable choices. Consumers individually have little power but together they are very strong if they can act on an informed basis. This purchasing power can help create a sustainable economy. That is why I will also push for swift adoption of the proposal on representative actions. Collective redres possibilities are very much needed by Europe and consumers. We must continue to crack down on this harnessed and aggressive selling and protect vulnerable consumers. We need to keep a high level of vigilance about the risk of dual credit products. It is unacceptable for consumers to be misled into believing a branded product is the same as elsewhere. We expect the same fairness wherever a consumer lives.

SOUNDBITE  (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: The starting point must be the products we buy are safe whether produced in Europe or elsewhere. I will look into updating the general product safety directive so that all players in the online supply chain reduce the number of unsafe products. I also want one clear rules in terms of liability for all providers involved in the online consumer journey.

SOUNDBITE  (English) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Finally I intend to place particular emphasis on effective enforcement. A large amount of consumer law has been adopted in recent years. We now need to ensure it is effectively enforced both inside a Union and with our international partners.

SOUNDBITE (French) Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Chairs, Members of Parliament, I have spoken a lot of accomplishments over the last 20 years. I think we have the right to be proud of what we have achieved. We also have a duty to look to the future. That starts with listening and I will be attentively listening to all throughout my mandate that are millions of young people who are out in the streets who are calling for a more sustainable future. They are a source of inspiration for us. They are calling on us to ac. Together I think we can achieve great things. I hope you will put your trust in me. Thank you.

Hearing of Didier REYNDERS, Commissioner-designate, Justice: Opening statement by Didier REYNDERS

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LIBE - Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

JURI - Committee on Legal Affairs

IMCO - Committee on Iternal Market and Consumer Protection