Annual rule of law assessment and the role of national parliaments
On Tuesday, MEPs and members of national parliaments will discuss with representatives of key institutions how to make the most of the new annual democracy review in EU member states.
Parliamentarians will first assess the Commission’s first annual rule of law report that was published on 30 September and the necessary steps towards establishing the more comprehensive Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights mechanism proposed by Parliament.
EP Vice President Katarina Barley will deliver the opening speech, followed by interventions by Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders and Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe the German Presidency of the Council.
Impact on EU values of COVID-19 emergency measures
The discussion will then turn to the measures adopted by member states to fight the pandemic and their repercussions on EU values, focusing on parliamentary checks and balances. The Civil Liberties committee recently warned that some of these measures pose a “risk of abuse of power” and underlined the need to ensure appropriate parliamentary scrutiny powers.
The EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency Director Michael O’Flaherty, the OSCE’s Acting Head of the Democratization Department Meaghan Fitzgerald, and Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio, as well as academics and representatives of civil society organisations, will take part in the debate with MEPs and members of the national parliaments.
When: Tuesday 10 November 2020, 14.15 – 15.45 and 16.45 – 18.40
Where: European Parliament in Brussels, József Antall building, room 4Q2 (remote participation)
Find here the full agenda of the inter-parliamentary committee meeting and other useful documents.
You can watch the meeting live here: part 1 and part 2. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, journalists are strongly advised to follow it online.
