EU Tells Poland to Stop Intimidating Its Judges

The EPP says the “Polish Government’s repression, penalisation and intimidation of judges, who defend the rule of law in Poland, must stop immediately.” The actions of the current Polish Government have damaged its credibility within the EU, it says. “The signing of the so-called ‘Muzzle law’ by Poland’s President is another step towards further eroding…

Frontex’s performance probed by EU Auditors

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has launched an audit to examine whether the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has so far provided effective support to Member States in the implementation of European Integrated Border Management. Today, the auditors have published an audit preview on Frontex. Audit previews provide information on an ongoing…

Spain condemned over its human rights record

Concern has been voiced over Spain’s human rights record, in particular “unfair” detention conditions and extensive pre-trial detention of suspects, during the Universal Periodic Review of Spain at the UN in Geneva on 22 January.  The EU member state has been accused of “failing to abide” by international standards concerning fair trials.  During the plenary…

Inside Romania’s prisons: Masked intervention groups, overcrowding and violence

Romania’s prison conditions are of great concern to the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), as detailed by their report.  The conditions discovered by the CPT team fall far below expected European standards for the treatment of prisoners and include attacks by masked intervention…

EP Votes Resolution on Hungary and Poland

Parliament has debated the situation in Hungary and Poland as both countries continue to push the boundaries when it comes to undermining the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights. In the resolution that will be voted on this week, the S&D Group is sending a reminder that member states must respect the primacy of EU law…

EU Renews its Terrorist Lists

The Council yesterday renewed the so-called EU terrorist list, which sets out persons, groups and entities subject to restrictive measures with a view to combating terrorism. Persons, groups and entities on the list are subject to the freezing of their funds and other financial assets in the EU. It is also prohibited for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to them. The Council is…

European judges’ silent march in Warsaw resonates internationally

From the columns of the New York Times to news articles in Tokyo, the stand taken by European judges in defence of the rule of law in Poland has made headlines across the world. Judges, lawyers and civil society activists from across Europe joined their Polish peers in a silent march in Warsaw to protest against systematic attacks…

EP Urges End to Oppression in Nicaragua

MEPs have urged the Nicaraguan government to end the ongoing crackdown on opposition voices and call for dialogue between the country’s political forces to resume. They have urged the Nicaraguan government to end the persistent repression of dissent, torture and sexual violence against the political opposition. They also call on the Nicaraguan authorities to immediately release all…

Booking.com Agrees Changes with Commission

Following dialogue with the European Commission and national consumer authorities, Booking.com has committed to make changes in the way it presents offers, discounts and prices to consumers. Once these new changes are fully applied by the company, consumers should be better able to make informed comparisons in line with the requirements of EU consumer law. Didier Reynders, Commissioner for…