Written answers

Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

EU Issues

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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365. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland is taking to reinforce the commitment to the rule of law throughout the EU in view of the worrying developments in some member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23301/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland firmly supports the rule of law as a core value of the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote.

It is important for the EU to have the necessary tools to monitor the rule of law across Member States and effectively respond to challenges where they arise.

We welcome the priority given to the rule of law by the new Commission and by the German Presidency, and the development of the new rule of law mechanism. We have fully participated in the preparatory process for the Commission’s first annual report on the rule of law, including its chapter on Ireland, and we look forward to its publication later this month and subsequent discussion at the General Affairs Council.

As part of the Article 7 procedure, there have been a number of hearings at General Affairs Councils over the past two years involving the Commission, Hungary and Poland, and other Member States. We have actively participated, highlighting the importance we attach to respect for the rule of law. We encourage both Hungary and Poland to continue to work with the Commission and fellow Member States to address these concerns.

We will continue to work with fellow Member States and the EU institutions, as well as at bilateral level, to ensure that the rule of law is upheld across the Union.

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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366. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether European Union member states that do not respect the rule of law should be banned from receiving aid from the EU coronavirus recovery fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23302/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland firmly supports the rule of law as a core value of the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote.

The conclusions of the special meeting of the European Council in July this year state that a regime of conditionality, based on the general principles and values enshrined in the EU Treaties, will be introduced to protect the EU budget and the EU Covid-19 recovery fund, known as Next Generation EU (NGEU).

This will involve difficult discussions at Council level as a number of Member States strongly support the use of protective measures, adopted by qualified majority, while others oppose such measures.

Ireland supports the introduction of such conditionality, based on EU values including the rule of law, to protect both the EU budget and NGEU. Once the regime of conditionality is introduced, Ireland will support its fair, proportionate and effective implementation in appropriate situations after due process.

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland is taking to promote democracy and the rule of law in Hungary following revelations from an organisation (details supplied) that Hungary is no longer a democratic state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23303/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of assessments of democracy in Hungary by the organisation mentioned by the Deputy.

Ireland firmly supports the rule of law as a core value of the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote.

Our concerns about issues relating to the rule of law in Hungary are well known, specifically developments in the areas of judicial independence, the civil society space, media freedom, academic freedom and fundamental rights.

At an EU level, as part of the Article 7 procedure, there have been a number of hearings at General Affairs Councils over the past two years involving the Commission, Hungary and other Member States. We have actively participated, highlighting the importance we attach to respect for the rule of law. On 22 September, the General Affairs Council will again consider the situation in Hungary. We encourage Hungary to continue to work with the Commission and fellow Member States to address these concerns.

We also use all opportunities at both political and official level to raise our concerns bilaterally with the Government of Hungary.

We will continue to work with fellow Member States and the EU institutions, as well as at the bilateral level, to ensure that the rule of law is upheld across the Union.

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