European values and the rotating presidency of the Council

22.1.2019

Question for written answer E-000293-19
to the Council
Rule 130
Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (PPE)

Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union states that ‘the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail’.

Over the years, it is on the basis of this article that we have built up our Union. These values define us as Europeans, as free, equal, democratic, tolerant, united, non-discriminatory citizens who respect the rule of law. We must therefore uphold and defend these values.

With regard to the rotating presidency of the Council, Romania has said that it wishes to develop the discussion of the common values enshrined in Article 2.

Can the Romanian Presidency explain in what vein, and to what end, it wishes to hold this debate?