Three reasons why the Polish government’s war on human freedoms is also your problem Commentary Modern-day authoritarians will boil you like a frog, whilst slowly turning up the heat. As a citizen of a democratic state, governed by the rule of law, you won’t suddenly wake up one day to find yourself in an authoritarian regime. It will creep up on you. Hiding behind empty slogans such as “regaining national sovereignty” and “national pride”. By Eliza Rutynowska
Defending Plurality: Four Reasons Why We Need to Rethink Academic Freedom in Europe Commentary Academic freedom is under attack, both in authoritarian democracies and in liberal Western democracies. Dominant discourses about academic freedom and free speech in the global north, lately especially in France and Germany, focus on an alleged threat to academic freedom through "political correctness" and "cancel culture", that, under scrutiny, often turn out to be exactly the opposite, namely defences of plurality and critical voices. By Dr. Karsten Schubert
Hungary: Pro-government scare tactics to intimidate critical voices amid vaccination rollout Commentary Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the government-sponsored disinformation engine is operating at full capacity in Hungary, scapegoating and intimidating critical voices and triggering death threats against academics and intellectuals. By Anna Frenyó
European Rule of Law in crisis – is it too late for the EU to save it? Commentary MEP Daniel Freund (Greens/EFA) rates the new EU Rule of Law mechanism as a success despite all the criticism. For the first time, the disbursements of EU funds are linked to compliance with the Rule of Law, with the aim of combating corruption and illiberal attacks to democracy and fundamental values. By Daniel Freund
After the Crisis, Before the Crisis: The Rule of Law Headache that Won’t Go Away Commentary The Hungarian-Polish veto on the EU budget and the recovery fund was averted at the European Council last week, but threats to core European values were not. The EU’s rule of law crisis is nowhere near to being solved, and attacks on fundamental rights and democracy will intensify in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. By Márta Pardavi
Safeguarding the rule of law in the EU: “We need to put an uncomfortable truth into words” Interview An interview with MEP Sergey Lagodinsky (Greens/EFA) on the protection of the rule of law in the EU, the European Commission’s proposals and the demands of the European Parliament. By Eva van de Rakt
What to make of Hungary’s budget veto? Analysis Hungary and Poland indicated in November that they would veto the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and the Next Generation EU (NGEU) economic recovery fund. However, recent developments indicate that Hungary’s and Poland’s views on the matter have diverged. What does Budapest stand to gain by using its veto? By Patrik Szicherle
Doing more harm than good? A critical assessment of the European Commission’s first Rule of Law Report Expert commentary The new European Commission's Rule of Law Report cannot be expected to deter those deliberately seeking or already engaged in the systemic dismantlement of national checks and balances. Unless these shortcomings are remedied, the new yearly monitoring exercise will create more problems than it will solve. By Laurent Pech
Systemic breaches of the rule of law in Hungary: “My biggest fear is that the EU will give in” Interview Interview with Benedek Jávor about the blackmailing attempt of Viktor Orbán and Mateusz Morawiecki, the importance of the rule of law in the EU and the responsibility of the German government. By Eva van de Rakt
“The EU must not back down now”. Hungary and Poland’s veto of the EU budget Interview Hungary and Poland are blocking the agreement on the new EU budget in a bid to stop EU payments being linked to the principle of the rule of law. In our interview, Piotr Buras of ECFR Warsaw and Lucas Guttenberg of the Jacques Delors Centre at Berlin’s Hertie School urge the EU not to give in at this key point in time. By Dr. Christine Pütz