Scholz pushes to strengthen EU’s ability to fight rule of law violations

Addressing EU lawmakers on Tuesday (9 May), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the need to reform the bloc, particularly if it wants to continue enlarging, and to strengthen the European Commission’s ability to bring member states to court over rule of law violations.

In a speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Scholz reiterated his call for EU reform that would be a precondition for the bloc’s expansion to eastern and south-eastern Europe.

“We have opted for a large Europe,” he said, adding that “an enlarged EU must be a reformed EU”. To prepare the EU for enlargement, he stressed the need to switch from unanimity to majority voting in foreign policy and taxation.

Scholz already outlined these plans in his Europe speech at Charles University in Prague last year.

However, this time around, he put a special emphasis on the need “to strengthen the Commission to initiate infringement proceedings in any case our fundamental values are violated”.

Such a step would be “Indispensable for the future”, he stressed.

The German Chancellor also gave his support for EU lawmakers to complete agreement on the reform of the bloc’s immigration and asylum system before next June’s European elections.

Fundamental values

However, his speech remained short on detail as to what such a reform would entail.

The opening of rule of law proceedings against national governments is a deeply political process and has so far only been initiated against Poland and Hungary, with few tangible results so far.

The Commission outlined several problems in other countries in its annual rule of law report but new infringement procedures do not seem likely, with the current EU institutions entering the final year of their five-year mandate.

Path to EU reform?

The German push for EU reform is most concrete when it comes to foreign policy. While Berlin has long advocated for the abolition of the unanimity requirement in foreign policy matters, the idea has recently gained more traction.

Led by Germany, nine EU states launched a fresh push last week to reform the bloc’s approach to the decision-making process and move to majority decision-making in foreign policy.

While this is possible within the existing treaty framework, its approval would require unanimity among member states.

Scholz emphasised that he would continue to work “to persuade” the critics of reform, but that hurdles remain high.

Of the larger EU member states, Poland is particularly outspoken against such treaty reforms. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki rejected the idea in a recent speech in Heidelberg.

Reacting to Scholz’s speech, Morawiecki’s party colleague and co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Ryszard Legutko, warned of the “tyranny of the majority”.

“The big guys do what they want, never bother to consult anyone and call it leadership,” he stressed. As long as the current voting system is in place, “there is little chance they could be outvoted on many sins that the German governments have committed,” he added.

While Scholz praised the European Parliament as “a driving force and an ally,” he received criticism from politicians outside his Socialist group.

“We don’t need to talk about fundamental rules. We need the courage to take Europe into the future. Europe needs leadership,“ EPP head Manfred Weber stressed.

“And we in the EPP, we call for a convention to revision the treaties to make Europe fit for the decades to come,” he added.

The Greens were similarly critical of Scholz, despite being in a coalition with his SPD in Germany.

“There are doubts about the role of the German government as a reliable partner in Europe,” Co-president of the Greens, Terry Reintke, stated. She pointed to Germany’s last-ditch move to block the combustion engine phase out, as well as its hesitancy when it comes to delivering weaponry to Ukraine.

Reintke also stressed the need for a convention to completely revamp the European treaties.

“We propose a European convention, I’m sure that if you urge that in the council we can get a majority and before and call a European convention before the European elections,” she stressed.

The multipolar world order

Scholz also stressed the need to strengthen Europe’s position in a multipolar world order.

“The world of the 21st century will be multipolar – it already is,” he stressed. “Europe must also hold its own in global competition with other major powers,” he added.

He especially warned of a China that is behaving like a rival. While the foundation of Europe’s approach should still be based on the three principles of Partnership, competition, and systemic rivalry, he stressed that “rivalry and competition on the part of China have undoubtedly increased.”

He also backed Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s approach of “de-risking” the relationship with China.

“No de-coupling, but clever de-risking is the motto,” he said.

At home, the German approach towards China is heavily contested. While the government’s China strategy was supposed to be published last year, the three-party ruling coalition is still fighting over the right approach, with the conservative wing of the SPD surprised by the more hawkish approach of the Greens.

However, to secure Europe’s role on the geopolitical stage, Scholz also stressed that partnerships would be essential. While the United States will continue to be Europe’s most important ally, he stressed the need to enhance cooperation with the global south and the importance of quickly concluding trade agreements with the Mercosur countries, Mexico or India.

“If we continue to negotiate new free trade agreements for years without results, then others will dictate the rules in the future – with lower environmental and social standards,” he warned.

[Edited by Benjamin Fox/Zoran Radosavljevic]