In this plenary round-up: the first European Order of Merit award ceremony; MEPs tighten screening of foreign investments in strategic sectors; Parliament backs new measures to protect the EU’s steel industry; better support for carers across the EU; and MEPs raise concerns over the rule of law and alleged misuse of EU funds in Slovakia. Highlights.

Plenary Round-up - Strasbourg, May 2026

Den globala coronapandemin och Rysslands krig mot Ukraina har haft en stark påverkan på arbetet i Europaparlamentet. Men den nionde valperioden som snart är till ända har inte bara präglats av hälsokrisen och de geopolitiska utmaningarna. Parlamentet har också satsat på den gröna och digitala omställningen för att stärka EU:s motståndskraft och demokrati.

Europaparlamentets nionde valperiod

Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law&nbsp;not to take arbitrary decisions, and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

It also enshrines the fight against corruption, which unfairly favours some to the detriment of others, and the safeguarding of media freedom, thus ensuring that the public is properly informed about the work of government.

The EU has existing tools at its disposal to protect the rule of law. In&nbsp;September 2020, the European Commission published the first annual rule of law&nbsp;report monitoring both positive and negative developments with regard to the rule of law in all member states. In July 2021 the second edition of the report was published.

There is also&nbsp;dialogue on the rule of law in the Council.

If the Commission deems that a member state is violating EU law, it can start infringement proceedings that may lead to financial sanctions determined by the European Court of Justice. Another procedure, under Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, allows the Council to make recommendations or decide by unanimity on sanctions against a member state, including the suspension of membership rights.&nbsp;MEPs have argued that existing tools are insufficient.

​Under the new regulation, effective from January 2021, EU budget payments can be witheld from countries where established breaches of the rule of law compromise management of EU funds. At the same time, the EU ensures that final beneficiaries do not end up paying the bill.

Rule of law

Under Article 2 TEU, the EU is founded on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights.

Article 7 TEU establishes two mechanisms (preventive and sanctioning mechanisms) to enforce European Union values in cases of systemic violations and to sanction Member States departing from them. The sanctions mechanism empowers the Council to suspend certain membership rights of a Member State, including voting rights in the Council in cases of a 'serious and persistent breach' of EU values (Article 7(2) TFEU)’. However, these mechanisms require a high decision-making threshold in the Council and in the European Parliament (when Parliament is called to participate) and rely heavily on Member States’ willingness to take action.

Rule of law - 8th parliamentary term

Under Article 2 TEU, the EU is founded on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights.

Article 7 TEU establishes two mechanisms (preventive and sanctioning mechanisms) to enforce European Union values in cases of systemic violations and to sanction Member States departing from them. The sanctions mechanism empowers the Council to suspend certain membership rights of a Member State, including voting rights in the Council in cases of a 'serious and persistent breach' of EU values (Article 7(2)TFEU)’. However, these mechanisms require a high decision-making threshold in the Council and in the European Parliament (when Parliament is called to participate) and rely heavily on Member States’ willingness to take action.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/rule-of-law-8th-parliamentary-term_10601_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Rule of law (2020)

Press conference on the Commission's 2024 Rule of Law report

LIBE delegation Rule of Law mission in Budapest, Hungary

LIBE Interparliamentary Committee meeting on the situation of the Rule of Law

EP Plenary session - 2024 Annual Rule of law report

Press conference on the situation in Hungary and the rule of law

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144) Latest attacks against women, women's rights defenders in Iran, and its arbitrary detention of EU nationals

This infoclip illustrates various aspects the rule of law, which is one of the EU’s fundamental values, guaranteeing democracy and citizens’ rights and freedoms. The video includes footage of the Court of Justice in Luxembourg and of several Courts across the EU, but also focuses on press freedom and media pluralism. Other important pillars of the rule of law are the right to vote, to peaceful assembly, and freedom of association. The core meaning of the rule of law can be defined along six principles: legality, legal certainty, prohibition of the arbitrary exercise of executive power, effective judicial protection by independent and impartial courts with effective judicial review including respect for fundamental rights; separation of powers; and equality before the law.

Infoclip: Rule of law in the European Union

MEPs discuss Poland’s revision of its electoral law as well as the new administrative body that threatens civil rights. MEPs had a first discussion during the May II plenary session on the Polish government’s so-called “State Commission for the examination of Russian interference in the internal security of Poland” from 2007-2022. This Commission, created in May 2023, raises serious concerns in terms of conformity with EU law, as it is an administrative body with the power to bar individuals from public office. Furthermore, MEPs focus on the recent judgement of the Court of Justice of the EU, which confirms that Polish justice reform of December 2019 that set up the Disciplinary Chamber for judges infringes EU law - a position that Parliament has repeatedly upheld. Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland: Closing statements by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

From 19 to 21 September, a delegation of ten MEPs from the EP’s spyware inquiry committee will be in Warsaw to hear from victims of spyware, local politicians, and other experts. The mission ends with the press conference held by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Head of the delegation and PEGA Chair and by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur

Press conference by Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL), Head of the delegation and PEGA Chair and by Sophia IN 'T VELD (Renew, NL), rapporteur - MEPs Delegation of the PEGA Committee to Warsaw

Press conference by Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ (Renew Europe, FR), New elected President.

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