Human Rights and the Rule of Law

What consequences did the Russian occupation have for the people of Crimea, for Ukraine and for the entire region? These challenges were discussed at the 3rd German-Ukrainian Breakfast Debate in cooperation with the Center for Liberal Modernity and Ukrainian Prism.

What is a resilient rule of law and how can it be improved in the EU? The RESILIO team provided answers to these questions with its research findings.

There are many reasons for the resilience of the rule of law in the EU. A strong public administration and judiciary are at the heart of a solid rule of law.

How resilient is the rule of law in the EU? The RESILIO Monitor analyses the performance of the rule of law in the EU27 and includes factors such as the media, civil society and the economic situation in addition to the legal and institutional framework.

The IEP Annual Conference 2023 took place on 28 and 29 September at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the Federation in Berlin under the title "The European Union in an Age of Geopolitical Rivalries: Political Developments and Policy Responses".

The chronology traces the autocratisation of Hungary since 2010.

What potential does the European Commission's Global Gateway Strategy offer and what are the challenges? Katja Kammerer, Jule Könneke, Dr Eefje Schmid and Dr Jörg Wojahn discussed in the IEP-EIB Lunch Debate.

Against the backdrop of rule of law erosion in EU Member States, RESILIO aims to formulate strategies to make Europe’s rule of law more resilient. To this end, its model adopts an interdisciplinary approach and identifies institutional and structural conditions of resilience. 

What are the implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine and what does the “Zeitenwende” mean for the EU’s CFSP and CSDP, economic and climate policy, and the future of the rule of law? At this year’s IEP Annual Conference in Berlin, experts engaged with these questions.

The war against Ukraine demands the solidarity of European states. However, different perspectives on the war are emerging in Germany and its neighbouring countries. Those were the topic of the discussion concluding the rEUnify project in Dresden.

Applying rule of law instruments earlier and more consistently – Dr Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the Federal Foreign Office, discussed the influence of illiberal parties in Central and Eastern Europe with Dr Funda Tekin at a digital Lunch Debate.

The Crimea Platform: A new initiative to reintegrate Crimea

Experts from politics and academia discussed Turkey's alarming human rights, democracy and rule of law standards. The conclusion was that the improvement of the EU-Turkey relationship is limited due to complex conflicts.

Experts from Germany and Ukraine discussed the current state of conflict resolution between Russia and Ukraine and the future of the occupied territories. The focus was also on the role of the international community in the negotiation process.

Poland and Hungary are vetoing a rule of law mechanism in the EU budget. Marek Prawda, EU Commission in Poland, discussed how to solve the blockade, strengthen democracies and defend areas for civil society engagement.

The atmosphere after the European elections, the influence of the member states, nation-state action: Katarina Barley, SPD top candidate in the 2019 European elections, discussed the state of play after the past EU election.