Analysis
Politics
European Commission Report Highlights Ukraine’s Gains in Governance, Reform and Resilience
7 November 2024
The Juncker Commission changed the rules of the game for the EU’s autocrats; the question is whether or not the von der Leyen Commission will follow suit?
The violation of European values like rule of law became a menace for the Juncker Commission. Juncker and Timmermans struggled for five years with countries like Orbán’s Hungary or Kaczynski’s Poland with rather mixed results.
On one hand, the Commission challenged the undermining of judicial independence in Poland in a rather straightforward and effective way. On the other hand, it was soft on Hungary, partly due to the leading party’s membership in the EPP, which resulted in the country’s rather unopposed autocratisation.
However, desiring to leave behind a positive legacy, the Juncker Commission apparently decided for an impressive overhaul of its rule of law toolkit in the very last months of its tenure.