6
Oct
2021
Watch
The state of play on the submitted RRF recovery plans awaiting approval (debate)
Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen! One thing is quite clear: EU money can only be awarded if it strictly respects the rule of law and democratic principles. The construction billions must benefit the citizens. They must not seep into dark holes or nepotism. All citizens of the European Union should benefit from the turbo for the way out of the pandemic crisis and from investments in the challenges of the future. Unfortunately, some governments still stand in the way of their own people. The European Commission cannot therefore approve a recovery plan that does not meet the common agreed objectives. There must be no false compromises here. Governments in Hungary and Poland have received concrete reform recommendations from the Commission on the independence of the judiciary, media freedom and anti-corruption. The implementation of these reforms is and remains an important precondition for approving fresh EU money that governments are not currently fulfilling in Hungary or Poland. Yes, we need dialogue and decisive action. The strongest tool for enforcing the rule of law is the new rule of law mechanism in the EU budget. Four out of five EU citizens are behind it. Ten months after its entry into force, the European Commission must finally initiate it. This is a question of seriousness and credibility, because it is about citizen tax money. We don't have much time.