Following the nomination of a new European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) called for stronger EU action on the rule of law and fundamental rights.

At its September plenary, the EESC hosted a debate on democracy which put forward ideas for a stronger EU response to rule of law breaches and democratic erosion, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of a long-anticipated civil society platform.

The EESC has advocated for such platform since 2016. The platform is expected to give civil society a stronger voice in shaping EU policies, offering a much-needed space for organisations to engage with EU institutions and help guide decisions on key issues like judicial independence and democratic freedoms.

Joachim Herrmann, from the European Commission’s Directorate for Justice, presented the latest rule of law report, highlighting its expansion to EU accession countries and its impact on the single market.

Kevin Casas-Zamora of International IDEA praised the EU’s efforts but warned of democratic backsliding, calling for stronger civil society engagement and more detailed rule of law reports. Alexandrina Najmowicz from the European Civic Forum urged clearer recommendations and an early warning system to prevent further democratic erosion.

During the debate, participants warned against complacency and emphasised the need to address growing concerns on authoritarianism, threats to judicial independence and shrinking civic space. Jerzy Pomianowski, head of the European Endowment for Democracy, cautioned that side-lining democracy for more immediate concerns like migration and security could backfire and called for 5% of development aid to be allocated to democratic programmes.

The EESC’s debate highlighted civil society’s indispensable role in defending the rule of law, calling for their deeper involvement in EU policymaking. The launch of the civil society platform, coupled with renewed commitment to fundamental rights, is crucial for the future of democracy in the EU. (gb)