According to Göran von Sydow, who is a political scientist and director of Sieps, they do not really want to use the rule that several EU countries have been fighting for for several years and which has now been tried in EU court.
Without wanting it, because the very threat of withdrawn money can make it easier for the EU to get countries to comply with the rule.
- These funds are very important for Hungary and Poland and it should also be said that support for EU membership is very high in these countries, he says.
It is unclear what effect it will have
At the same time, the process has been going on for a while, it is a year and a half since it was decided to introduce this mechanism, and the two countries have so far shown no signs of meeting the wishes that exist, von Sydow believes.
- Therefore, the question becomes what says they should do it now, he says.
With the ruling of the European Court of Justice, the tool can now be fully applied, but the Commission still needs to develop guidelines and find cases where the funds can be withheld.
- There is strong pressure and the expectation from, among others, the European Parliament and many Member States that the Commission will actually act.
But it is important that this is done correctly, because it is sensitive.
Important for individuals and cooperation
The EU is fighting for its member states to have independent courts for several reasons, according to von Sydow.
- It is very important to have an independent judiciary, so that the courts' actions take place beyond political interference.
It is important for individuals, but also within EU cooperation.
Because it is based on a degree of trust between Member States, but also between institutions.
The national courts are part of the EU legal order, in order to make this system work.
In addition, it is important to curb corruption or other abuses of power, and in terms of values, it damages the EU's confidence if members do not live up to the values that the union claims to stand for, von Sydow says.