MEPs discuss the state of play of the Hungarian and Polish recovery and resilience plans. The Members debate with Commissioners Dombrovskis and Gentiloni on the key reasons behind the delay and the timelines for the Commission to approve both plans. The extension to approve the Polish recovery plan expired on 3 August and for the Hungarian plan on 30 September.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

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

EU - Poland (T)

EU - Hungary (T)

MUREŞAN, Siegfried (EPP, RO)

GENTILONI, Paolo (IT, EC)

GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL, Eider (S&D, ES)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

RZOŃCA, Bogdan (ECR, PL)

DELBOS-CORFIELD, Gwendoline (Greens/EFA, FR)

GARICANO, Luis (Renew, ES)

Recovery plan for Europe (T)

recovery and resilience facility (T)

The state of play on the submitted RRF recovery plans awaiting approval: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The Commission strives to uphold the rule of law. Our Union needs to be a place where everyone is held accountable and corruption is fought, where the financial interests of the EU are protected, where all people and businesses alike are equal under the law and the independence of the judiciary is ensured. And we have concerns about the situation in some member states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Siegfried MURE&#350;AN (EPP, RO), We need to know more about the plans that were not yet adopted. You have mentioned Hungary, Poland and and Sweden. We see that the Polish government is threatening the European Commission to start blocking files, which should be agreed in a consent procedure. This attacks the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. This in itself, you know, is an attack upon our democratic institutions, our way of work. And to us, it means that it has to be clarified.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL (S&amp;D, ES), The recovery plans are being adopted and funding is reaching member states. And that's great news for all of us. But it's not the case for Hungary and Poland. They presented their plans in May. They've had to ask for derogations, which, if I'm not wrong, have also expired. So obviously, what's going on with those plans is of concern to us because everyone's aware that at least partially, these delays relate to respect for the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Eider GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL (S&amp;D, ES), We're also talking about the acceptance of the primacy of EU law and given prior form when it comes to the rule of law and the fact that these governments are showing no desire to comply with the rules, it seems very difficult to imagine that their plans could be imagined because as things are, they're not complying with some of the country recommendations and they're not complying with rule 10 of the rules when it comes to preventing and detecting fraud and conflicts of interests. It'd be pretty counterproductive if we approved all the plans and then started procedures to sanction these countries under the rule of law mechanism.

SOUNDBITE (English), Luis GARICANO (Renew, ES), Hungary needs deep reforms when it comes to corruption. National laws must be changed and this must be changed now before the recovery money goes to Mr Orban. Mr Orban has a parliamentarian majority big enough to change even the Hungarian Constitution. So don't let him please tell us that he can't pass laws on corruption.

SOUNDBITE (English), Luis GARICANO (Renew, ES), Not a single MEP in this house wants to punish Hungarians or Hungary. We want to make sure, in fact, that the recovery money will go to some variance in the seven figures in not just to the politically connected and powerful. So stay firm. Don't give these seven billion dollars to run to feed his corrupt clients. Not a single Europe from European taxpayers must end up in the pocket of groups and corrupt politicians. And honestly, I think what we wanted when we did when we made these these regulations is that. Precisely to give this leverage to the Commission and the Commission now has the leverage to force anyone to fix Hungary's most egregious corruption problems.

SOUNDBITE (Polish), Bogdan RZO&#323;CA (ECR, PL), We were able to look at all the main issues decarbonisation of the Polish economy. Now, however, without any legal basis, as far as I'm concerned, the principles of your European solidarity are being violated. And the times of COVID, I just like to underscore that, again, this is dramatic. These funds need to get to those who are ill, to businesses to make sure that we can ensure a European recovery also in Poland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA, FR), On 27 April 2021, a new law was adopted in Hungary. It created a legal framework for public interest trusts performing public duties. More and more public services are being transferred. Board of these trustees include current ministers and state secretaries. Public assets are being donated to private entities and opacity will prevent any scrutiny on the use of the budget in these foundations. And these trusts do not need to apply rules of public procurement. This in a context where access to public information in Hungary has become near to impossible and in a member state which has a hugely sad record of corruption in the European Union. And we fail to understand why this is not raising concern on how European money will be channelled to these structures.