Written answers

Tuesday, 23 October 2018

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

EU Issues

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

182. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the action the EU is taking in view of breaches of fundamental European principles by Poland and Hungary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43312/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Dialogue has been ongoing between the European Commission and Poland regarding the rule of law since January 2016, when the Commission initiated its rule of law process following changes introduced by the Polish Government to the functioning and composition of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal.

On 20 December 2017, the Commission proposed to the Council to initiate proceedings under Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union, and adopted recommendations of actions for the Polish Government to take. Since then, there have been ongoing exchanges between the Commission and the Polish authorities and two hearings have taken place at the General Affairs Council on 26 June and again on 18 September.

On 24 September, the European Commission gave notice of its intention to initiate infringement procedures with regard to the law on the Polish Supreme Court. This is separate to the ongoing procedure under Article 7 (1). On Friday, 19 October, the European Court of Justice, in the context of interim proceedings before final judgment on the substance of the case is made, ordered that Poland adopt a number of measures that would have the effect of suspending the application of the provisions of this legislation.

At the most recent General Affairs Council meeting on 16 October, as part of the Article 7(1) TEU procedure, the Commission provided the Council with an update on recent developments. Ministers reiterated the importance of upholding the rule of law in all EU Member States and stressed the need to achieve tangible progress.

Ireland has consistently stressed the importance of the rule of law, including at the hearings that have taken place to date at the General Affairs Council, and urged an early solution on this matter.

On 12 September 2018, the European Parliament, under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, adopted a reasoned proposal to the Council, inviting the Council to determine whether there is a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the European Union is founded.

The President of the European Parliament formally communicated this proposal to the President of the Council of the European Union, the Austrian Chancellor Mr Sebastian Kurz, on 18 September.

At the General Affairs Council on 16 October the Presidency informed Ministers about the next procedural steps following the triggering of the Article 7(1) TEU procedure for Hungary. The Commission will provide the Council with an update on the relevant infringement procedures at its next meeting.

The Government’s concerns about issues relating to the rule of law and the importance it attaches to the values on which the European Union is founded are well known and stressed, as appropriate, in Council meetings and in bilateral engagements.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.