French MEP: the EU's "rule of law" is a controlled political tool

Without a clear definition of the rule of law, there is a risk that the European Commission will use the conditionality mechanism for the protection of the EU budget against Hungary as a tool of political coercion, Helene Laport, the representative of the French National Consolidation party in the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, told MTI in a statement on Wednesday.

Helene Laport informed that the EP's faction called Identity and Democracy (ID) presented an alternative resolution proposal in favor of Hungary.

He said that the planned text of the EP resolution uses the concept of the rule of law, but the concept does not have a generally accepted EU-level legal definition, and this leaves room for vague interpretations. The MEPs presenting the proposal in favor of Hungary draw attention to the fact that without a defined definition of the rule of law, the European Commission can use the conditionality mechanism as a political weapon.

"The use of the concept of the rule of law is suitable for political attacks in the absence of specifics and facts," he said.

The EP representative said: above all, the proposal draws attention to the fact that individual Member State jurisdictions interpret the concept of the rule of law differently, which means that there is no EU-level agreement regarding the interpretation of the concept. Their draft confirms that the European Union exceeded its powers when it adopted the conditionality mechanism. The proposal emphasizes that the EU budget cannot be subject to political pressure. He also warns that the EU can circumvent the procedural requirements in the case of procedures examining the threat of undermining the EU's core values ​​under Article Seven of the EU Basic Treaty.

Laport emphasized: the conditionality mechanism is a controlled political tool. The ID representative group condemns all political, fact-free attacks against Hungary, referring to the vague concept of the rule of law, the French MEP representative stated.

The representative group considers it unacceptable that the European Union withholds the EU subsidies due to Hungary and Poland-Russia, instead it should recognize in a more visible form the efforts made by the two countries in accepting those fleeing Russia's war in Ukraine, added Helene Laport.

MTI

Photo: European Parliament