The European Union must always defend its fundamental principle: that citizens have the same basic rights in every member state. This demand was restated today as progressive ministers met to discuss safeguarding EU values against right-wing attacks.
Europe ministers from the Party of European Socialists (PES) family met in Brussels this morning to coordinate ahead of the General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting later today.
Tytti Tuppurainen, Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering and meeting Chair, said:
“Governments that pass anti-LGBTIQ+ laws equating homosexuality with paedophilia, that spy on independent journalists, and that direct illegal pushbacks of migrants must feel the pressure of the EU bearing down on them. That is our commitment as social democrats.
“When nationalistic far-right parties come to power, we will be the ones upholding the fundamental principle of our Union of values: that whichever member state you live in, you have the same rights.
“Democracy and the rule of law are the cornerstone on which the EU is built and without it no society can be fully inclusive, free, and equal. This is why, socialists and democrats must continue to fight against the normalisation of regressive and far-right ideas that undermine our institutions and social progress. This is a battle we will never waver from.”
The meeting exchanged on the upcoming hearing in the GAC on breaches of fundamental rights and the rule-of-law, in the framework of Article 7 (1) procedures. These measures are a vital tool to safeguard basic democratic and fundamental rights, including the right to live under a free and fair judicial system.
Ministers once again expressed support for withholding EU funds from member state governments that fail to meet agreed reform milestones, and the imposition of fines on member state governments that fail to comply with rulings of the European Court of Justice.
The meeting expressed concern that some member state governments are weaponising national veto-powers in the EU Council in an attempt to blackmail the EU into watering-down its efforts to safeguard EU values and the rule of law. This blackmail holds hostage important EU decisions, such as support for Ukraine.
Ministers looked forward to the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting expressed its confidence that the Spanish Presidency will make long overdue progress on key issues such as migration, the rule of law, and support for citizens who are facing repeated challenges.
Network participants also discussed the latest local and regional elections in Spain over the weekend and expressed their unconditional support for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the PSOE in the forthcoming elections on 23 July.
The meeting was attended by:
- Tytti Tuppurainen, meeting Chair, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Finland
- Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight
- Tiago Antunes, Secretary of State for the European Union, Portugal
- Pascual Navarro, Secretary of State for the European Union, Spain
- Mohammed Chahim, S&D Group Vice-President for a Green New Deal, European Parliament
- Antony Beumer, Secretary General, S&D Group in the European Parliament
- Yonnec Polet, Deputy Secretary General, PES
