PM Katainen: Commission communication on rule of law a step in right direction

"Respecting the rule of law is central in the EU. Respect for our common values is a prerequisite for the legitimacy of the Union in our citizens’ eyes. It is also vital for mutual trust between the Member States. Finland has called for a permanent EU-level system to monitor and evaluate the rule of law in all Member States. Such a system would help us prevent problems”, PM Katainen says.

“The Commission communication provides a sound assessment of how to proceed without duplicating the work of the Council of Europe and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. It is important that the Commission underlines that all Member States are treated equally. Finland would have preferred a proposal for a permanent regular system that covers all Member States, not just a system of individual procedures that address issues in one particular country. However the communication is solid basis for further discussions”, Katainen says.