Hungary, Romania show need for new EU rule of law benchmark

(STRASBOURG) - Recent worries over democratic values in Hungary and Romania highlight the need for the European Union to set new benchmarks to safeguard the rule of law, the EU's justice commissioner said Wednesday.

"The Commission has to play its role as the guardian of the treaties," Viviane Reding said in remarks to the European parliament over concern in Brussels in past months over alleged breaches in democratic values.

"I learnt that we lack effective mechanisms in the EU to enforce respect for the rule of law more generally and more systematically," she added.

Similar situations could arise at any time in any one of the 27 member states, she said, proposing as a consequence that the EU put in place "an objective mechanism" to assess the judicial systems in all member states.

"We are very strict ... on the rule of law in the accession process of a new member states. But once this country has joined the European Union, we appear not to have any instrument to look at whether the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary still command respect."

Her office was therefore working on a "Justice Scoreboard" to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the judiciary across all 27 members.