Application of the rule of law conditionality mechanism – Institutional balance and respect for national competences

Question for written answer E-001578/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Angéline Furet (PfE), Philippe Olivier (PfE), Tobiasz Bocheński (ECR), Anna Bryłka (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), António Tânger Corrêa (PfE), Tomasz Buczek (PfE), Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Roberto Vannacci (PfE), Petra Steger (PfE), France Jamet (PfE), Gheorghe Piperea (ECR), Pascale Piera (PfE), Petar Volgin (ESN), Petr Bystron (ESN), Sarah Knafo (ESN), Rody Tolassy (PfE), Mélanie Disdier (PfE), Gerolf Annemans (PfE) Subject: Application of the rule of law conditionality mechanism – Institutional balance and respect for national competences Since 2021, the implementation of the rule of law conditionality regulation has raised concerns about a possible slide into authoritarianism by the Commission. The mechanism can be used to suspend or condition European funds on the basis of the Commission’s assessment of the internal situation in a Member State. In doing so, the Commission often exceeds its competences and appears to apply the mechanism in a biased manner, targeting governments such as those of Poland and Hungary. 1. How does the Commission ensure that the application of the regulation is not instrumentalised for political purposes against certain Member States, in particular those whose governments take positions which diverge from those of the European institutions? 2. How does it justify its intention to bypass national governments in the event of noncompliance with the rule of law, by distributing...