New German FM Says EU Differences On Rule Of Law 'Very Very Great'

New German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has stated that the differences of view over rule of law standards are 'very very great', but adds that Germany will seek solutions with Poland on RoL issues.

• The new 'traffic light' coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been more pronounced on percieved RoL violations in EU member states such as Poland, Hungary, and Slovenia than the proceeding grand coalition led by Angela Merkel. Could set up a more combative relationship between Berlin and eastern EU states than has been the case recently, when Merkel often acted as the broker between eastern gov'ts and liberals in Brussels and national capitals calling for legal action against Poland and Hungary.
• Tom Nuttall at the Economist tweets: "Clement Beaune, French EU minister, tells ECFR event he expects a compromise with Polish government on rule of law in coming weeks, but not with Orban's Hungary before his re-election bid. France takes over rotating EU Council presidency next month. Both Beaune and European Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova say they expect the new German government to bring fresh dynamic to EU RoL discussions. Traffic-light coalition deal contains notably strong language on rule of law abuses. Scholz meeting Macron now; Baerbock was in Paris yday."