Foreign policy


EU civil war: Furious Brussels vows to crack down on Poland and Hungary as unity crumbles

Brussels sent a firm warming to EU states as it vowed to investigate breaches of EU law in Warsaw and Budapest. Both countries have been engaged in long-running disputes with the EU over disagreements with policies, which has served to drive a wedge between eastern Europe and the rest of the bloc. The Hungarian government had hoped the case against them would be dismissed under the new Commission, but a statement by Věra Jourová, the Commission’s vice president, suggests the matter will be fully investigated.

Ms Jourová, who will attend her first General Affairs Council today in her new role, warned the new Commission “does not mean a new start”.

She told Politico: “The processes initiated by the previous Commission including Article 7 and infringements will continue, and this is what I intend to discuss at today’s debate.

“My message will be clear: The rule of law is our foundation and can never be compromised.”

She added she’d like to hear from both Warsaw and Budapest as “some recent news we received [is] quite concerning — so I expect to hear how the governments intend to implement the rulings of the European Court of Justice or, in case of the Polish government, the ruling of their Supreme Court.”