Violence in France, seen both among police officers and in the demonstrations that have often turned to looting, has become an increasingly concerning problem in recent years.

EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders remarked on this issue in a recent interview with Belgian public radio RTBF, noting that this “very high level of violence” is what “really needs to be looked at because it poses a problem”.

Reynders, a former Belgian prime minister, noted that it is not just the police that are to blame for this violence, but also the demonstrators who have the right to protest, but not to loot or destroy public property. He pointed out that Brussels sees protests every day, and that they are generally handled in a way that relies more on prevention than direct confrontation.

Reynders was set to present the European Commission’s annual report on the rule of law in the 27 EU countries, which looks at factors such as media freedom, the functioning of courts, and the fight against corruption. This report offers a series of recommendations, although law enforcement and fundamental rights do not fall under its scope.

Two countries in particular, Poland and Hungary, have been noted for their “very big deviations when it comes to rule of law”, and as such have had their EU funds frozen until reforms can be made to improve the independence of judges and combat corruption.

It is clear that the issue of violence in France is a matter of great concern, and further steps must be taken to investigate and address the problem, both at the local and European level.

Through the continued efforts of the European Commission, as well as the implementation of the necessary reforms in Poland and Hungary, it is to be hoped that a solution may be found and the violence in France can be brought to an end.