R1: Rule of law is at the core of the European Union – We need to protect it

All over Europe, right-wing parties are attacking the rule of law and minorities. And while they have managed to achieve worrying electoral results in France, Germany, Sweden and other European countries, they have already been successful in others, like Poland or Hungary.

In several European countries, the rule of law is under attack. These attacks take different forms (attacking the independence of the judiciary, reducing civil liberties) and end up having severe consequences on citizens, especially women and minorities.

All over Europe, right-wing parties are attacking the rule of law and minorities. And while they have managed to achieve worrying electoral results in Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden and other European countries, they have already been successful in others, like Poland or Hungary.

All over Europe, right-wing parties are attacking the rule of law and minorities. And while they have managed to achieve worrying electoral results in France, Germany, Sweden and other European countries, they have already been successful in others, like Poland or Hungary., or gained opportunistic influence in the Government like in Bulgaria

All over Europe, right-wing parties are attacking the rule of law and minorities. And while they have managed to achieve worrying electoral results in France, Germany, Sweden and other European countries, they have already been successfulgotten into government in others, like Poland or Hungary.

These attacks follow a common pattern. They attack minorities, like LGBTI and women, under the pretence of protecting family values, stripping away their rights of self-determination and expression. The independence of the judiciary is the next to be adversely affected, freedom of press and other media gets restricted, and academics and NGOs are obstructed in their work. Even the environmental dimension of rule of law has come under attack, with a record number of infringements of European law on environmental protection and limiting the ability of civil societies to control and protest national environmental policies.

In addition, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has engendered additional - and in some cases unneccessary - restrictions to fundamental rights and the rule of law . In many EU member states, parliaments were deprived of their scrutiny powers, freedom of movement was restricted, data protection safeguards were suspended.

These attacks follow a common pattern. They attack minorities, like LGBTI and women, under the pretence of protecting family values, stripping away their rights of self-determination and expression. The independence of the judiciary is the next to be adversely affected, freedom of press and other media gets restricted, and academics and NGOs are obstructed in their work. Even the environmental dimension of rule of law has come under attack, with a record number of infringements of European law on environmental protection and limiting the ability of civil societies to control and protest national environmental policies. Furthermore, right wing forces are trying to reframe the rule of law in an authoritarian way and try to associate it with the enforcement of executive state power.

These attacks follow a common pattern. They attack minorities, like LGBTI and women, under the pretence of protecting family values, stripping away their rights of self-determination and expression. The independence of the judiciary is the next to be adversely affected, freedom of press and other media gets restricted, and academics and NGOs are obstructed in their work. Even the environmental dimension of rule of law has come under attack, with a record number of infringements of European law on environmental protection and limiting the ability of civil societies to control and protest national environmental policies.

The EGP heavily criticises these developments and calls, in particular but not only, the Polish and Hungarian governments to stop their attack on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. At the same time, we support the civil movement that is fighting against these developments and we stand in solidarity with the people of Hungary , Poland and PolandBulgaria.

The EGP heavily criticises these developments and calls on, in particular but not only, the Polish and Hungarian governments to stop their attack on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. At the same time, we support the civil movement that is fighting against these developments and we stand in solidarity with the people of Hungary and Poland.

The EGP heavily criticises these developments and calls, in particular but not only, the Polish and Hungarian governments to stop their attack on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. At the same time, we support the civil movement that is fighting against these developments and we stand in solidarity with all the people ofresisting in Hungary and Poland.

The EGP heavily criticises these developments and calls, in particular but not only, the Polish and Hungarian governments to stop their attack on the rule of law, democracy and, fundamental rights, their attempt to cripple local governments and further attempt to misuse public money. At the same time, we support the civil movement that is fighting against these developments and we stand in solidarity with the people of Hungary and Poland.

In particular, as the EGP we:

- Call on the Council of the EU to make progress on the Article 7(1) procedure against Hungary and Poland, as this is the most powerful tool currently available at the EU level to sanction member states breaching the EU values enshrined in the Article 2 of the Treaty of the EU.

- Push forCalls on the EU member states not to give in to the Hungarian and Polish Governments threat to veto the adoption of the next Multiannual Financial Framework(MFF) to include aFramework (MFF) if the Conditionality Mechanism is adopted. A strong rule-of- of law conditionality, which can actually be triggered,Conditionality Mechanism is needed to ensure that EU money is not spent on projects that do not respect the rule of law and fundamental rights while, at the same time, foresees safeguards for final recipients and beneficiaries should be foreseen. When adopted, we call on the European Commission to effectively use it.

- Push for the Multiannual Financial Framework(MFF) to include a strong rule-of-law conditionality, applying to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the new Recovery Fund, which can actually be triggered, to ensure that EU money is not spent on projects that do not respectby those who attack the rule of law and fundamental rights while, , at the same time, foresees safeguards for final recipients and beneficiaries who are not part of the problem.

- Push for the Multiannual Financial Framework(MFF) to include a strong rule-of-law conditionality, which can actually be triggered, to ensure that EU money is not spent on projects that do not respect the rule of law and fundamental rights while, at the same time, foresees safeguards for final recipients and beneficiaries.

- Demand that Poland and Hungary end their blockade of the rule-of-law mechanism.

- Push for the Multiannual Financial Framework(MFF) to include a strong rule-of-law conditionality, (beyond anti-corruption conditionality) which can actually be triggered, to ensure that EU money is not spent on projects that do not respect the rule of law and fundamental rights while, at the same time, foresees safeguards for final recipients and beneficiaries.

- Call on the European Commission to take a more proactive role in defending the rule of law and acting on the findings of the annual rule of law report, as well as following up and starting infringement procedures where Member States fail to implement EU law with regard to the rule of law and fundamental rights.

- Encourage national, local and regional authorities to include rule of law and fundamental rights conditionalities into their own cross-border agreements and programs (e.g. on university cooperation or economic development). The protection of those key values is not only the duty of European institutions but of all authorities within the European Union and its member states.

- Call on the European Commission to take a more proactive role in defending the rule of law and acting on the findings of the annual rule of law report, as well as following up and starting infringement procedures where Member States fail to implement EU law with regard to the rule of law and fundamental rights. Study mechanisms to avoid/cancel reciprocal protection between Visegrad alliance members or other articulated member states groups.

- Will push for the protection of fundamental rights, including in Poland and Hungary, in particular, the right to a fair trial, the right to information and freedom of expression, including media freedom and pluralism, academic freedom, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. An EU mechanism on the rule of law must include safeguards for media freedom with country-specific recommendations. EU funding for independent journalism must be made available

- Insist on the crucial importance of the proper functioning of the legislative and electoral system and the importance of the separation of powers and constitutional checks. In particular, we call on the Polish parliament and government to ensure that the legislative and electoral system is fair and the constitutional powers are used in line with the standards of the rule of law.

- Promote the implementation of robust measures to prevent, detect, and combat corruption across the EU, in line with the recommendations of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe and other relevant international bodies, as a way of ensuring that institutions are effective, accountable, and inclusive at all levels."

- Strongly condemn the attack on women’s rights, especially the continued attempts to abolish crucial parts of the abortion law in Poland and call on the EU and Council of Europe to recognise abortion and body autonomy as a fundamental human right.

- Recognise the right of NGOs in Poland and Hungary, as well as in other EU countries, to be funded and supported directly by EU institutions and funds. The direct funding of well-governed cities and regions by the EU Commission in countries with illiberal national governments should be consideren. Any attempt by national governments to cut funding opportunities must be prohibited as this is a way to restrict the development of civil society and democracy.

- Recognise the right of NGOs in Poland and Hungary, as well as in other EU countries, to be funded and supported directly by EU institutions and funds that are also distributed via EU institutions instead of national agencies. Any attempt by national governments to cut funding opportunities must be prohibited as this is a way to restrict the development of civil society and democracy.

- Recognise the right of NGOs in Poland and Hungary, as well as in other EU countries, to be funded and supported directly by EU institutions and funds. Any attempt by national governments to cut funding opportunities or to interfere in any way with the funding applications and project outputs must be prohibited as this is a way to restrict the development of civil society and democracy.

- Support the efforts of civil society to apply its right to receive environmental information that is withheld by public authorities and to participate in preparing plans, programmes, policies and legislation that may affect the environment, as stated in the Aarhus Convention. Especially in the times of climate crisis, the exploitation of nature cannot be treated as a source of income for the EU Member States. The implementation of special acts and other legal instruments that limit citizens’ influence on environmental policies must be stopped.

- we call on the European Commission to further its social agenda and to live up to the promise of true social rights and social protection for European citizens.

- Support the efforts of civil society to apply its right to receive environmental information that is withheld by public authorities and to participate in preparing plans, programmes, policies and legislation that may affect the environment, as stated in the Aarhus Convention. Especially in the times of climate crisis, the exploitation of nature cannotshould not be treated as a source of income for the EU Member States. The implementation of special acts and other legal instruments that limit citizens’ influence on environmental policies must be stopped.

- Support the efforts of civil society to apply its right to receive environmental information that is withheld by public authorities and to participate in preparing plans, programmes, policies and legislation that may affect the environment, as stated in the Aarhus Convention. Especially in the times of climate crisis, the exploitation of nature cannot be treated as a source of income for the EU Member States. The implementation of special acts and other legal instruments that limit citizens’ influence on environmental policies must be stopped.

- Demand that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights should apply also to the Member States' actions and citizens should be able to defend them in the European Court of Justice. This will give competences to the EU to act in those areas and to react whenever those rights are violated in the Union.

- Support the efforts of civil society to apply its right to receive environmental information that is withheld by public authorities and to participate in preparing plans, programmes, policies and legislation that may affect the environment, as stated in the Aarhus Convention. Especially in the times of climate crisis, the exploitation of nature cannot be treated as a source of income for the EU Member States. The implementation of special acts and other legal instruments that limit citizens’ influence on environmental policies must be stopped.

- Demand that all missing Member States join the EU prosecutor and that new EU funds are made conditional upon membership in the EU prosecutor. Who wants to profit from EU funds must accept EU controls against corruption.