Tag: conditionality

Is the new mechanism to protect the rule of law in the EU a revolutionary weapon or paper tiger?

Is the regulation that makes access to European funds conditional on respect for the rule of law and other EU values a revolutionary weapon or paper tiger?

The Hungarian and Polish governments are united in defending their autocratizing political models, whatever it takes politically. However, there is also a significant difference between Poland and Hungary. While Poland is largely free from large-scale, systemic corruption plaguing EU funds, the Hungarian regime’s political-economic model is based on state-led, centralized corruption structures and the deliberate misuse of EU funds.

Rights and Values Programme (RVP) fill gaps in the EU’s instruments for protecting the rule of law. Member states must not to be tempted to trade this strategic issue for other, more immediate gains.