EU funds should be tied to the bloc’s ‘fundamental values’ – European Commission

The European Commission said that the access to EU funds should be linked to the rule of law, however, did not provide any details yet on how it might be implemented. “It is the moment to consider how the link between EU funding and the respect for the EU’s fundamental values can be strengthened,” the EC said in a statement, adding that any financial conditionality would “need to be precise, proportionate.” Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said that a more detailed plan will be announced in May after consultations with member states. The EU is currently working on its next multi-year financial framework, which will be the first following Brexit, and as a result will be smaller without the UK contributions. The EU’s Justice Commissioner, Vera Jourova stressed the need for every member state to have a “functional, independent judiciary system, which could deal in an impartial way with disputes.” Such move is seen as Brussels trying to force Poland to back down over its judiciary overhaul. In December, last year, the Commission in an unprecedented move launched Article 7 procedures, giving Warsaw three months to reverse judicial reforms. If it does not, Warsaw’s voting rights could be suspended. Some EU member states, including Italy, have also accused Warsaw of not honoring the fundamental EU rules by not accepting any refugees under the EU plan to relocate asylum seekers from camps in Italy and Greece. However, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that there has been some progress in talks with Warsaw. “I think there is a good chance to see the Polish positions move towards ours and to see our positions move a bit more timidly towards the Polish position,” Juncker said.