The European Commission’s Rule of Law monitoring process is not fit for purpose, according to a leading European NGO, as the body publishes its annual report on the issue. In a statement published today assessing the reporting process over the last five years the...
Five years into the EU Rule of Law policy: taking stock, looking forward
2024 marks the fifth year of the European Commission's annual Rule of Law Report cycle. Aside from assessing this year’s report, this moment is an opportunity to reflect on the tangible outcomes of these reports and how to address their shortcomings in the future. At...
Packed with loopholes: Why the AI Act fails to protect civic space and the rule of law
In a new analysis, ECF, Liberties and the European Center for Not-for-profit Law assess the AI Act from a civic space and rule of perspective. The unaccountable and opaque use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially by public authorities, can undermine...
The Rule of Law report needs a broader approach and concrete recommendations in order to fully serve its purpose
(Please click here to read a French translation) On 5 July 2023, the European Commission published its fourth annual report reviewing the Rule of Law infrastructure and developments in 27 Member States in 2022. It assessed how recommendations from last year’s report...
NGOs urge EU ministers to act decisively on Poland’s rule of law crisis
As the EU Council prepares to discuss the rule of law situation in Poland at its upcoming meeting on 22 February 2022, FIDH and other civil society organisations from Poland and across the EU draw EU ministers’ attention to recent, alarming developments, pointing to a...
ECF responds to the 2022 Commission consultation
on rule of law in the EU
The European Civic Forum took part in the 2022 European Commission consultation on the state of rule of law in the European Union. Democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law are interlinked The proper functioning of the rule of law cannot rely only on state...
EC RULE OF LAW REPORT FINDS CIVIC ACTORS FACE “SERIOUS CHALLENGES”: IT’S TIME FOR THE COMMISSION TO ACT!
On 20 July 2021, the European Commission published the second rule of law report covering events taking place in 2020 and early 2021. The report maintains the same methodology adopted in the previous one, looking narrowly at only four elements: the justice system, the...
The ECF responds to the European Commission stakeholders’ consultation on the rule of law in the European Union
Deterioration of the rule of law, democracy and civic space: there is a need for a comprehensive approach The deterioration of the rule of law develops in parallel with growing social disparities In the European Union, the rule of law (Etat de Droit, Rechtsstaat)...
The European Civic Forum warns about rapid deterioration
of civic space and the rule of law in France
French version below Paris, Brussels, 1st December 2020 The European Civic Forum welcomes the mass mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of people that took place on 28 and 29 November in 70 cities across France in defence of civil liberties. The demonstrations...
First EU Rule of Law Report Recognises Civic Actors As Crucial Safeguards
Now it is time to take concrete steps for regular, structured and transparent civic dialogue Last Wednesday, the European Commission (EC) presented its first report on the rule of law situation in the European Union. This report is complemented with 27 country...