A collection of 14 posts
The new report on rule of law and governance by the European Commission (EC) gives a mixed picture on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) anti-corruption efforts, judicial independence, media freedom, and legislative practices. The EC’s Rule of Law Report 2024, its 5th, included assessments of developments in Bulgaria, Czechia,
The Council of the European Union adopted legislation Friday on releasing funds for Hungary’s EUR 5.8bn Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) plan that had been frozen for 18 months, dependent on the country meeting 27 anti-corruption and judicial reforms. Hungary’s steps have so far failed to convince
MEPs are planning to protest the transfer of a EUR 35.4bn EU stimulus package to Poland, arguing that the country has not adequately addressed disputes over judicial independence and Rule of Law in the country. The European Commission (EC) last week approved Poland’s COVID recovery plan, despite a
The European Commission (EC) has activated against Hungary a “rule of law mechanism” that links alleged corruption to provision of EU funds. A formal notification was sent to the Hungarian government on Wednesday, after all the commissioners approved the move. On Wednesday morning journalists were briefed that the EU’s
The European Union’s top court ruled that it can reduce funds to member states over rule of law concerns, rejecting a legal challenge from Poland and Hungary, on Wednesday. Hungary called the verdict “an example of how Brussels is abusing its power”, while Poland condemned the Court of Justice
Estonia and Austria have the cleanest economies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) according to the latest annual report by the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International (TI). Austria and Estonia ranked joint 13th worldwide, of the 180 countries surveyed, after scoring 74 out of 100 on TI’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions
French President Emmanuel Macron singled out Hungary and Poland in connection with alleged rule of law violations as he outlined the priorities of France’s six-month rotating presidency that runs until the end of June. Speaking at the European Parliament, Macron invoked “the three historic promises of post-war Europe – democracy,
Serbia moved a small step closer to EU membership on Sunday when 60.5% of its voters cast their ballot in favour of changes to the judicial system in a referendum. President Aleksandar Vucic said the result represented “de facto progress on the rule of law, a theme which is
EUR 700 million spent on developing the rule of law in the Western Balkans has failed to deliver tangible results, according to a report released by EU finance watchdog the European Court of Auditors (ECA) on Monday. Despite the funding extended from 2014-20 on promoting justice and freedom of expression,
The European Commission (EC) has ordered Hungary and Poland to account for alleged rule of law violations that may significantly affect funding to two of the bloc’s biggest recipients. Poland has been given two months to clarify what ruling party PiS calls a “streamlining” of its judicial system, but
Poland’s highest court ruled Thursday that some parts of the EU treaties are incompatible with the country’s own Constitution. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki originally took the case to Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, asking whether the EU could block Poland’s judiciary reorganisation. In his verdict, judge Bartlomiej Sochanski
The European Commission along with publishing its second rule of law report for all member states on Tuesday gave a 16 August deadline for Poland to comply with the order issued by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) recently. The CJEU called on the country to freeze all actions by
In a heated debate on Thursday night, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán was confronted over recent anti-LGBTQ+ measures by his fellow heads of state and governments. Diplomatic sources say those leaders spoke in unusually personal and emotional terms for an EU summit discussion. Luxembourg’s PM Xavier Bettel spoke
On Tuesday, Hungary’s parliament passed a so-called pedophile law, which critics say is actually directed at the LGBT community and also restricts freedom of expression. Introduced by the ruling Fidesz party which has a two-thirds majority in parliament, the legislation includes a public register of convicted sex offenders and