EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights

The European Union is founded on values, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, laid down in Article 2 TEU. Those values are common to all Member States and a precondition for a well-functioning Union based on mutual trust.

In recent years, events in some Member States revealed systemic threats to the rule of law. A lack of coherent and effective action to protect those values revealed need for a new and more effective EU mechanism.

The European Parliament was due to vote during the October 2016 second plenary session on a legislative-initiative report to create an interinstitutional 'Pact on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights'.

Author: Anja Radjenovic

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Is the EU Commission’s Rule of Law Fight about Poland already lost? http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-the-eu-commissions-rule-of-law-fight-about-poland-already-lost/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: In-Depth Analysis, October 2016: An EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. European Added Value Assessment accompanying the legislative initiative report (Rapporteur: Sophie in 't Veld) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2016/579328/EPRS_IDA(2016)579328_EN.pdf

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: In-Depth Analysis, October 2016: An EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. Annex II - Assessing the need and possibilities for the establishment of an EU Scoreboard on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2016/579328/EPRS_IDA(2016)579328(ANN2)_EN.pdf

Egmont: Commentaries, 04.11.16: The mounting dislocation of EU law http://www.egmontinstitute.be/publication_article/the-mounting-dislocation-of-eu-law/

---