Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt threatens motion of censure against von der Leyen

Belgian Member of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt (Open VLD, Flemish liberals) and two other members of the liberal Renew group in the European Parliament are threatening to pass a motion of censure against the European Commission. If the motion were to be approved, the Commission would have to resign. Verhofstadt accuses President Ursula von der Leyen and her Commissioners of approving the Polish recovery plan without any guarantees from Warsaw about the rule of law.

Belgian Member of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt (Open VLD, Flemish liberals) and two other members of the liberal Renew group in the European Parliament are threatening to pass a motion of censure against the European Commission. If the motion were to be approved, the Commission would have to resign. Verhofstadt accuses President Ursula von der Leyen and her Commissioners of approving the Polish recovery plan without any guarantees from Warsaw about the rule of law.

Last week, the European Commission gave a green light to the Polish recovery plan, more than a year after it was submitted. This opens the door to more than 35 billion euros in subsidies and loans. There was immediate criticism that the Commission wants to release the money without Warsaw having taken measures to restore the independence of the Polish judiciary - a condition that the Commission had expressly set.

The liberal MEPs Guy Verhofstadt, Sophie in 't Veld (Netherlands, D66) and Luis Garicano (Spain, Partido de la Ciudadanía) now want to submit a motion of censure against the Commission in the European Parliament. According to them, the Commission "is fully aware that the remedies announced by the Polish authorities (relating to the rule of law, ed.) are purely cosmetic". The Commission is also not respecting the rulings of the European Court of Justice and is therefore not taking its role as guardian of the treaties seriously, the liberals claim.

That is why they are looking for sufficient support to prepare a motion of censure. They would need the signatures of around 70 Members of Parliament. They intend to put the motion itself to the vote as soon as the Commission transfers money to Poland from the European Recovery Fund without first implementing the relevant Court rulings, reinstating previously dismissed Polish judges and recognising the primacy of EU law in Warsaw.

If the motion is adopted by two-thirds of the MEPs present, who make up a majority of the total 705 MEPs, the Commission must resign. 

(KOR)

Belgian Member of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt © François WALSCHAERTS / POOL / AFP