Iohannis: Romania agrees with granting European funds depending on the rule of law

"It is quite complicated to relate the financing of European funds to the rule of law. I have to tell you very clearly. Romania does not oppose this mechanism. We are working hard until we develop very specific criteria that can be applied. We agree and support this initiative. If a clear procedure is reached, we are ok with it", Klaus Iohannis has said, before meeting the president of the European Council, Charles Michel.

The European Union member states' goverments that are involved in judicial affairs or do not fight effectively frauds and graft will risk suspension of the community funds, according to a draft resolution approved in January 2019 by the European Parliament.

The plan will only be implemented if it is approved after negotiations by the European Parliament and the European Council.

As soon as a sanctioned member state resolves the issues identified by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Council may decide releasing the funds.

In March 2019, the EU states declared themselves in favor of setting up a working group to consider establishing such a mechanism.

After receiving the vote of the European Parliament for the appointment as president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen expressed support for this step.

"In this way, we will avoid pointing fingers only at certain member states; we will make sure that all countries are evaluated", Ursula von der Leyen said at the time.

Asked how the rules will be applied to all EU countries, given that Germany and France were not sanctioned for failing to comply with budget deficit limits, the head of the European Commission said: "The same criteria apply to everyone. My political experience suggests that respecting rules valid for everyone is the only basis for maintaining a certain balance between the influential powers in the world. We defend the rule-based order and this applies also in the EU. The further we go from the established rules, the less we will be able to strike a balance and be fair to the citizens".

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