Table 5: European values and fundamental rights: a key for the European Union of tomorrow

Conclusions

  • The workshop on « European values and fundamental rights: a key for the European Union of tomorrow » led to a fruitful discussion on the profound causes of the current challenges regarding fundamental rights and the rule of law within the European Union.
  • What has gone wrong and to what extent can the EU improve the respect of European values were the two main questions structuring the debate. 
  • Participants first reflected on who is the EU? The EU is often criticised for its technocracy, but at the same time those voices are calling for the EU powers being limited by subsidiarity. 
  • Participants observed a «blame game» taking place within the EU. According to the different inputs, participants considered that European actors - both citizens and governments, have failed in their responsibilities towards the EU over the last decades. 
  • This led to the rise of a new social question: is the EU contributing to creating a social turmoil leading to weakening the democracy?
  • Participants concluded that European actors must keep fighting for EU values and the rule of law, as giving up the fight would mean taking the risk that the next generation won’t enjoy the same freedoms as we do today. 

Chair: José Antonio Moreno Díaz (EESC member)
Rapporteur: Christian Moos (EESC member)