Principles of law focused on the EU meeting

Czech Presidency

The meeting began with the President presenting its five overall priorities:

• The refugee crisis and the management of Ukraine
  Reconstruction
• Energy conservation
• Strengthening Europe’s security and
  Internet security
• Strategic Recession in Europe’s Economy
• Stability of democratic institutions.

A dialogue on the principles of the rule of law in the European Union

Ministers discussed developments in the rule of law.

The debate began in the European Commission’s annual report on the situation in the area of ​​the rule of law in the EU, presented in July. Discussions were held mainly on national legal systems, anti-corruption measures, media situation and other institutional issues of checks and balances.

– Several countries, including Sweden, thought it would be best if the EU Commission now used a new tool to stop payments to Hungary. Now it remains to be seen whether Hungary implements the measures it promised, EU Minister Hans Dahlgren said after the meeting.

EU Commission Tax Statistics and Annual Foresight Report

Ministers discussed the content of European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen’s annual policy speech on 14 September.

The European Commission presented a vision statement this year, which supports the Commission’s work. The 2020 and 2021 reports mainly dealt with EU resilience and strengthening the Union’s long-term capacity and freedom of action. This year, the report deals with cooperation between green and digital transformation and the possibilities of change to make the EU sustainable and competitive in the long term.

The relationship between the European Union and Great Britain

Ministers received a situational update focusing on the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol, part of the Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and Great Britain.

Conference on the Future of Europe

The conference’s final report, with 49 proposals, must now be followed up by EU institutions.

At a meeting on September 20, ministers followed up the conference with a discussion to deal, among other things, with the approach to amending treaties and decision-making rules.

In addition, ministers had regular preparation for the European Council meeting in October.