Press Release: European Commission presents a framework to safeguard the rule of law in the European Union

On the 11 March 2014, the European Commission adopted a new framework for addressing systemic threats to the rule of law in any of the EU's 28 Member States.

The initiative comes after the College of Commissioners held two orientation debates on the rule of law on 28 August 2013 and on 25 February 2014, which concluded that there is a need to develop a tool to deal, at EU level, with systemic threats to the rule of law.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels, 3 and 4 March 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/meeting-justice-and-home-affairs-council-3-4-march-2014/

ESO: Background information: The EU and the Rule of Law – What next? http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-the-eu-and-the-rule-of-law-what-next/

ESO: Background information: Safeguarding the rule of law and solving the Copenhagen dilemma: Towards a new EU-mechanism http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-safeguarding-the-rule-of-law-and-solving-the-copenhagen-dilemma-towards-a-new-eu-mechanism/

ESO: Background information: Commission adopts 2013 Work Programme http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-adopts-2013-work-programme/

European Commission: RAPID, SPEECH/14/202: A new Rule of Law initiative http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-202_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/204/: Remarks by President Barroso on the future of Justice and Home affairs and the Rule of Law initiative http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-204_en.pdf

EurActiv, 12.03.14: Brussels lays out plans to counter ‘systemic threats’ to EU rule of law http://www.euractiv.com/justice/commission-equips-counter-system-news-534064

EUObserver, 12.03.14: EU officials seek new powers to protect rule of law http://euobserver.com/justice/123434

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