The theme of this year’s meeting is: How can civil society help strengthen the rule of law in the European Union? And how can the rule of law help strengthen civil society?
Respect for the rule of law is one of the founding values of the European Union (EU). Acknowledging the risk of erosion of this value, the European Commission established the European Rule of Law Mechanism, as a preventive tool which aims to promote the rule of law and prevent challenges from emerging or it deteriorating. The European Commission’s annual report on the rule of law is a core component of this Mechanism. The report acknowledges the important role that civil society organisations play for supporting institutional systems of checks and balances pertaining to the rule of law.
FRA’s 2022 annual update on civic space in the EU provides an overview of how civil society is contributing to this in many ways. It emphasizes the role that civil society plays in promoting a strong rule of law culture in the EU.
Drawing on these reports, this year’s annual meeting of the Fundamental Rights Platform will focus on how civil society can best contribute to strengthening the rule of law in their countries, and on what can be done to support civil society organisations in this endeavour.
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