The European Commission presented on Wednesday its annual report on respect for the rule of law in each of the 27 EU Member States.
In Belgium, the report highlighted the lack of progress on the reform of the register of lobbyists in the Chamber. The register is to be extended to the government and ministerial cabinets, under the terms of the Federal Government’s agreement.
This is the Commission's fourth annual report and paid particular attention to compliance with previous recommendations. In Belgium's case, it found “no progress” in the reform of the House’s lobby register.
However the Commission remarked on major progress in the new code of conduct for members of government, adopted on 16 June. This code requires ministers and secretaries of state to defend the government line on pain of resignation but also contains rules of conduct on integrity, conflicts of interest, gifts and various benefits, as well as accepting and exercising mandates.
The Commission recommends similar rules for members of parliament. In particular, it calls for tighter regulation of "revolving doors", in order to prevent former politicians from being directly hired in a private sector where he or she has been active in politics. 
The Commission last year recommended that Belgium allocate sufficient human and financial resources to ensure the proper functioning of its justice system. But authors found that this recommendation has only been partially met, stating that “Structural shortcomings persist”. Nonetheless, it noted that access to official documents has been improved.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the report is particularly critical of Hungary and Poland, which have both been the subject of EU judicial and administrative proceedings for several years for breaches of the rule of law. The report takes stock of the situation in both countries but does not draw any new conclusions from the failings identified.
Romania and Bulgaria are also under strong scrutiny; both countries have been in the antechamber of the Schengen area (free internal movement) for years but other Member States cite persistent problems as a reason for not approving their application.
The Commission has repeatedly stated that, as far as it is concerned, Bucharest and Sofia can join the Schengen area. But European Commissioner Vera Jourova stressed that “They will still have to make diplomatic efforts” to convince the other Member States.
