Verbatim report of proceedings

Thursday, 10 September 2015 - Strasbourg

30th and 31st annual reports on monitoring the application of EU law (2012-2013) (debate)

  Therese Comodini Cachia (PPE). – Madam President, it is true that we monitor the application of European law into the national legal order to ensure respect for the rule of law, legal certainty and predictability of law. However, effective, efficient and timely implementation by Member States is not only there to serve legal concepts but more so to ensure those freedoms the enjoyment of which is fundamental to European citizenship.

As citizens of the Union, we expect to be able to move freely amongst Member States and to live, work and do business in other Member States. In doing so, citizens rightly expect not to get entangled in legislative webs created by either late implementation, or inaccurate or incomplete application of European law.

While recognising the Commission’s efforts in monitoring the application of EU law, citizens need to see stronger and less time-consuming procedures. In today’s challenges there is, for example, no time to waste in assuring that Member States correctly and timely apply European law on migration as well as that on human trafficking and the environment. We can only deliver results to our citizens if legislation that has been lawfully passed is applied.