Our veto serves the interests of the EU

We demand equality and respect for the founding treaties!

Varsó, 2020. május 13. Mateusz Morawiecki miniszterelnök a parlament varsói üléstermében 2020. május 12-én. A lengyel alsóház megszavazta éjjel azokat az elõírásokat, amelyek lehetõvé teszik, hogy az eredetileg május 10-re kiírt, múlt héten elhalasztott elnökválasztást hagyományos és levélszavazás formájában bonyolítsák le. MTI/EPA/PAP/Radek Pietruszka Fotó: Radek Pietruszka

We demand equality and respect for the founding treaties! The EU cannot undermine its own principles, nor can it change them according to the political wishes of individual member states. The EU budgetary law falls secondary to the principles of the core treaties; thus, budget-related stipulations cannot circumvent, replace or amend the law established in the treaties. In terms of the regulation at hand, the rule of law mechanism circumvents and “overwrites” the founding treaty—specifically, Article 7 TEU. It must be made clear: the planed mechanism which enables Member States to monitor individual governments’ compliance with the law, is in itself a circumvention of EU law and a thereby a threat to rule of law.

Within the EU, disputes and differences in opinion arise often, but there are mechanisms that have always led to resolutions. I am confident that we are capable of finding a solution that respects the contents and spirit of the core treaties. Another possibility, however, is that it is not in the interest of certain “actors” for the European Recovery Fund to be launched because they don’t want to put money in the common budget—the best benefits they reap from the unified Europe market.

Today, we all have a common goal ahead of us which should serve as our guide: rebuilding Europe’s economy.

This mechanism’s design opens the door to dangerous interpretations. It offers extensive power and recognition to actors without democratic legitimacy; especially to those who hold a significant “democratic deficit” in their domestic parliaments. This poses a serious threat to all Member States and the future of the entire Union. Those who consider themselves immune are unaware of how much arbitrariness this mechanism allows for.

Of course, it’s not difficult to imagine that a given EU political actor dislikes an economic or social reform introduced in a Member State. But it’s enough to label any reform as a rule of law breach in the media or an EU forum, and already the road to EU funds withdrawal begins. Is this really what we want? To accept such arbitrariness? The establishment of centrifugal forces that this regulation would generate?

Such a solution would most likely allow for extreme political pressure on the domestic policy of Member States. I emphasize that we are talking about domestic politics here.

Presently, this arbitrary and politically motivated mechanism is directed against Poland, but where is the guarantee that tomorrow it will not be directed against another state unwilling to submit to the political will of Brussels? The founding treaties respect and protect sovereignty while this new mechanism violates and severely limits it. Lack of consent, i.e. the veto, will not lead to a weaker EU. This process is rooted in the reality of EU structures, in line with the spirit and democratic nature of this community. It’s the safety valve essential for the EU to even exist. A method to preserve compromise and prevent stronger powers from forcing their ways on us. It’s an affirmation that every Member’s voice is equally important.

Charles de Gaulle once said, “We sacrifice the future in the name of the present just because we are unable to say no.” Poland feels a shared responsibility for the future of Europe. That is why our “no” vote on this proposed mechanism is simultaneously a “yes” for a truly free, equal Europe unified in its diversity.

In terms of the regulation at hand, the rule of law mechanism circumvents and “overwrites” the founding treaty—specifically, Article 7 TEU. It must be made clear: the planed mechanism which enables Member States to monitor individual governments’ compliance with the law, is in itself a circumvention of EU law and a thereby a threat to rule of law.