Didier Reynders

(L-R) European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commissioner for Budget Johannes Hahn and European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, announce the freezing of funds to Hungary  in Brussels, Belgium, 30 November 2022. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET Dual-track approach

The European Union has frozen Russian assets worth around 17 billion euros since Moscow invaded Ukraine, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said in an interview.     

The figure has risen from the roughly 13.8 billion euros ($13.75 billion) "from oligarchs and other entities" that Reynders announced in July that the EU had frozen, mainly in five countries.    

Brussels – Prime Minister Janez Janša held talks with European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders on Thursday. The details have not been revealed beyond the government saying the discussion revolved around the key dossiers of Slovenia’s EU presidency.

Poland's top court on Oct. 7 ruled against the supremacy of EU law in a landmark ruling that could threaten the country's EU funding and even its membership of the bloc.

Brdo pri Kranju – Prime Minister Janez Janša has accused the European Commission of exceeding its powers and of political abuse of the rule of law in an interview with Euronews, saying in its efforts to get member states to comply with the EU’s fundamental values the Commission is “close to breaking the rule of law” itself.

A group of European airlines agreed to refund passengers whose flights were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and committed to provide better information on passengers' rights in future.

Of late, the Commission has adopted a much tougher approach, with the EU executive slowing down the process of disbursing cash from the bloc's 750-billion-euro coronavirus recovery fund to Europe's two most recalcitrant members.

The EU will recognise national Covid certificates from Turkey, Ukraine and North Macedonia from Friday, opening the way to easier travel for their residents, the European Commission said.

The "equivalence decisions" mean those three countries' certificates will be connected to the bloc-wide EU Digital Covid Certificate system, the EU executive said in a statement.

Brussels – Presenting the 2021 Rule of Law Report, European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders called on the Slovenian authorities on Tuesday to ensure a stable financing of the STA. Reynders pointed to potential measures in the wake of Slovenia’s non-appointment of European delegated prosecutors come autumn.

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However, the stinging criticisms of Hungary and Poland, which are the only two member states currently under formal EU investigation into their undermining of the rule of law, indicates much harsher measures are in the pipeline, such as the withholding of billions of euros in EU funds designed to help member states' economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic.