Now playing Next Europe News The Rule of Law: what is it and why is it important? In recent years, citizens of EU countries have taken to the streets, protesting against what they saw as democratic backsliding. The European Commission has introduced ways to limit regression on rule of law. We explain the issue that is shaking the EU's foundations. 30/09/2020
Now playing Next Europe News Hungary calls for EU's Jourova to quit over 'sick democracy' comment Orban's spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said that Jourova's comments were "inappropriate and unacceptable". 29/09/2020
Now playing Next Romania Romania: Judicial reforms 'contrary to EU law' — ECJ legal advice This case concerns the Bucharest government's appointment of an interim Chief Judicial Inspector and the creation of a prosecution department with exclusive oversight of judges' offences. 23/09/2020
Now playing Next Poland Poland: PiS ponders ruling alone as United Right coalition 'collapses' The 'United Right' political alliance has been in power since 2015. Negotiations are to come, but could bring 2023 elections forward. 18/09/2020
Now playing Next Europe News MEPs urge Brussels to link EU cash handouts to rule of law record Brussels committed itself to tackle rule of law backsliding when it took office last year. MEPs say now is the time to deliver. 15/09/2020
Now playing Next Europe News 'We'll find a solution': EU's Michel confident over COVID fund dispute "This won't be easy, as there are different interpretations on the table, but I'm totally convinced that we'll find a solution," European Council President Charles Michel told Euronews. 07/09/2020
Now playing Next Europe News EU COVID-19 rescue fund: what safeguards are there against corruption? Leaders agreed a "historic" deal on the coronavirus recovery package, but how can the EU be sure that the money doesn't get into the wrong hands? 28/07/2020
Now playing Next Europe News Rule of law to be important part of EU summit talks, says Reynders The EU has been trying for years to get some countries to respect basic rules like media freedom and independence of the judiciary without success. One of the proposals on the table at the summit is to cut funding to countries found breaching rule of law principles. 17/07/2020
Now playing Next Europe News Bulgaria protests should make Europe fear 'another Poland or Hungary' At the European Parliament, some MEPs fear a democratic drift in Bulgaria, as seen in Hungary and Poland. Budapest and Warsaw have seen EU sanctions procedures triggered against them for breaches of the rule of law. But for others, the comparison is amiss. 15/07/2020
Now playing Next Serbia Serbia: 71 arrested as anti-Vučić protesters try to storm parliament Protests began against renewed lockdown restrictions but have mushroomed into an expression of wider frustration with the hard-line rule of President Aleksandar Vučić. 11/07/2020
Now playing Next Europe News Analysis: New EU tools to prevent backsliding on the rule of law So far, the EU's response to assaults on the rule of law was based on infringement procedures, European Court of Justice rulings, and - in the case of Hungary and Poland - the so-called Article 7 process. But now, the EU is introducing new tools. 23/06/2020
Now playing Next Hungary As Hungary ends controversial emergency powers, critics are suspicious As Hungary ends its controversial "state of danger," critics remain suspicious about the powers Viktor Orbán’s government has gained from the coronavirus crisis. 16/06/2020
Now playing Next Hungary Euroviews. Csaba Molnár: Orbán demanding an apology over the return of emergency powers is a cruel joke ǀ View For us, who trust institutions rather than “good emperors,” Orbán’s Enabling Act remains unconstitutional, even if it was ultimately revoked. And so, instead of applauding his greatness, we remember the words of the Trojans: “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!” 29/05/2020
Now playing Next Hungary Euroviews. Don’t be fooled by its sudden compliance. Hungary is helping to unravel the EU’s legal order ǀ View The Hungarian government’s decision to comply with the Luxembourg court’s judgement makes perfect sense in the illiberal calculus of strategically resetting the terms of EU membership. 28/05/2020
Now playing Next Poland MEPs call for 'decisive action' over rule of law in Poland Brussels has long voiced concerns over the threats to judicial independence in Poland but the European Council has not taken any formal action to suspend the country's voting rights. 26/05/2020
Now playing Next Germany Euroviews. Germany’s Constitutional Court has gone nuclear. What happens next will shape the EU’s future ǀ View The BVerfG has blown up more than 60 years of loyal dialogue with Luxembourg and has profoundly eroded the authority of the EU’s highest jurisdiction. This comes at a particularly sensitive time. 15/05/2020
Now playing Next Hungary Hungary: 'Critics silenced' in social media arrests as EU mulls powers The EU calls for emergency powers to be eased along with lockdowns, amid concern at a spate of arrests in Hungary over social media posts. 14/05/2020
Now playing Next Hungary Euroviews. The EU needs to stop funding Viktor Orbán’s emergency rule ǀ View If experiences of a decade of dialogue on the rule of law are any indication, Orbán is unlikely to be halted by diplomatic reminders about good practice during a pandemic. 07/04/2020
Now playing Next world news Euroviews. Michal Šimečka: Inability to solve the EU’s rule of law crisis will lead to disintegration ǀ View If the EU wants to survive as a meaningful organisation delivering for all of its citizens, it will have to step up its response to the ongoing rule of law crisis. 16/03/2020
Now playing Next Europe News Hungarian Fidesz Party suspension upheld by EPP The decision to uphold the suspension of Hungarian PM Viktor Orban's Fidesz Party from the EPP political group was made behind closed doors yesterday. 04/02/2020