ECNL joined Civil Society Europe (CSE) and the European Foundation Center in sending an open letter urging the European Commission (EC) to respond to the European Parliament’s proposal on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (Union Pact on DRF).
In the last two years only, ECNL has tracked at least 12 legal initiatives in the EU countries that pose a threat to the freedoms of association or assembly. In many member states reports indicate deteriorating conditions and means resulting in a shrinking civic space.
However, the Union so far has not had a legally binding mechanism in place to monitor regularly member states' compliance with fundamental rights. With CSE we therefore urge the EC to present its proposal on the new mechanism, which is sufficiently strong and dissuasive to prevent infringements, until September 2017 and engage in a meaningful dialogue with civil society in its preparation.