New Justice, Rights and Values Fund - Related Opinions

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European Media Freedom Act

Adopted on 14/12/2022
Reference: 
SOC/742-EESC-2022
Referral: 
COM(2022) 457 final 2022/0277 COD
Rapporteur: 
Christian MOOS (Diversity Europe - GR III / Germany)
Co-rapporteur: 
Tomasz Andrzej WRÓBLEWSKI (Employers - GR I/Poland)
Plenary session: 
574 -
Dec 14, 2022 Dec 15, 2022

This Opinion welcomes the European Media Freedom Act and all the related EU initiatives aiming to address the worrying developments in the area of media freedom over the last years. The Opinion entails a number of recommendations concerning editorial and journalists' independence; the need for financial resources to ensure independence of public media; transparency in the allocation of State advertising; transparency of media ownership. The Opinion also calls for measures to ensure the independence of national regulatory bodies, especially in the context of the future European board for media services. It also considers that EU anti-concentration law should be used where national regulators fail to address media market concentration.

EESC opinion: European Media Freedom Act

Initiative against abusive litigation targeting journalists and rights defenders

Adopted on 26/10/2022
Reference: 
SOC/734-EESC-2022
Referral: 
COM(2022) 177 final 2022/0117 COD
Rapporteur: 
Tomasz Andrzej WRÓBLEWSKI (Employers - GR I / Poland)
Co-rapporteur: 
Christian MOOS (Diversity Europe - GR III/Germany)
Plenary session: 
573 -
Oct 26, 2022 Oct 27, 2022

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" (SLAPPs) are a particular form of harassment used against journalists, rights defenders and others who are involved in protecting the public interest. Typically, they are meritless lawsuits lodged by powerful individuals or entities against a weaker party who expresses a critical position on a matter of public interest. Through this Opinion, the EESC welcomes the European Commission initiative – a proposed Directive and a Recommendation – aiming to tackle this growing phenomenon. The EESC also proposes to go beyond the current scope of the initiative, notably through a stronger focus on national aspects, and recommendations on aspects like preliminary rulings or training.

EESC opinion: Initiative against abusive litigation targeting journalists and rights defenders

Securing media freedom and diversity in Europe (own-initiative opinion)

Adopted on 22/09/2021
Reference: 
SOC/635-EESC-2021
Rapporteur: 
Christian MOOS (Diversity Europe - GR III / Germany)

In this opinion, the EESC recalls that media freedom, including the safety and security of journalists, and media pluralism are cornerstones of liberal democracy. It therefore notes with regrets that the developments within the EU are alarming and calls for urgent steps by Member States and the EU, including through the use of the new general regime of budget conditionality. The EESC welcomes the broad range of reports and initiatives by the European Parliament and the Commission, including the Commission's plan for a "European Media Freedom Act". It also supports measures to increase the safety of journalists and underlines the necessity of a legal ban on Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP). The EESC supports the idea of a European Agency to bolster media skills of EU citizens through educational programmes. It also proposes the creation of a fully independent European public service broadcaster.

EESC opinion: Securing media freedom and diversity in Europe (own-initiative opinion)

Resilient Democracy through a strong and diverse civil society (own-initiative opinion)

Adopted on 20/03/2019
Reference: 
SOC/605-EESC-2018
Rapporteur: 
Christian MOOS (Diversity Europe - GR III / Germany)

Liberal democracy relies on civil liberties and a pluralistic civil society, but considerable political forces in today's Europe are challenging liberal democracy. The social, political and legal framework must allow for a pluralistic civil society. Strong social partners and civil society are needed to defend EU values. The EESC calls for the creation of a Democracy Semester, a European control mechanism, corrective economic measures for non-respect of fundamental EU values, the creation of a European statute for CSOs, or interinstitutional CSO authorisation and, tax incentives to support civil society. Burning social questions must be tackled, ensuring social sustainability and inclusive education.

EESC opinion: Resilient Democracy through a strong and diverse civil society (own-initiative opinion)

The Union's budget and the rule of law

Adopted on 18/10/2018
Reference: 
SOC/598-EESC-2018-02955-00-01-AC-TRA
Referral: 
COM(2018) 324 final 2018/0136 COD
Rapporteur: 
Jukka AHTELA (Finland)

The EESC welcomes the proposal for economic corrective measures regarding Member States that commit serious violations of the rule of law in Europe, and recommends that the interdependence between democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law is better reflected.  The Commission should develop further channels for debate on Article 2 TEU values, and should include the EESC in this work. The EESC reiterates its call for the creation of a system of regular and independent monitoring of the implementation of these values in the Member States.

EESC opinion: The Union's budget and the rule of law

Multiannual Financial Framework after 2020

Adopted on 19/09/2018
Reference: 
ECO/460-EESC-2018-02072-00-00
Referral: 
COM(2018) 321 final COM(2018) 321 final COM(2018) 321 final COM(2018) 322 final 2018/0132 APPCOM(2018) 322 final 2018/0132 APPCOM(2018) 325 final 2018/0135 CNSCOM(2018) 325 final 2018/0135 CNSCOM(2018) 326 final 2018/0131 NLECOM(2018) 327 final 2018/0132 APPCOM(2018) 327 final 2018/0132 APPCOM(2018) 328 final 2018/0133 NLE
Rapporteur: 
Javier DOZ ORRIT (Workers - GR II / Spain)

Europeans need more (and better) Europe. The powers and financial resources currently allocated to the EU have been increasingly misaligned with the concerns and expectations of Europeans. The EESC, in accordance with the European Parliament's position, therefore proposes that the expenditure and revenue figure reach 1.3% of GNI. The proposed level of commitments of 1.11% of the EU's GNI is too modest to credibly deliver on the political agenda of the EU.

The EESC recognises the high European added value of the programmes where the MFF 2021-2027 concentrates the main increases in expenditure. However, the Committee questions the fact that these increases are made at the cost of strong cuts in cohesion policy (-10%) and the Common Agricultural Policy – CAP (-15%).

EESC opinion: Multiannual Financial Framework after 2020

Impact of the social dimension and the European Pillar of Social Rights on the Future of the European Union

Adopted on 19/10/2017
Reference: 
SOC/564-EESC-2017-02692-00-00-AC-TRA
Referral: 
COM(2017) 206 final COM(2017) 206 final COM(2017) 206 final COM(2017) 250 final COM(2017) 251 final
Rapporteur: 
Gabriele BISCHOFF (Germany)
Co-rapporteur: 
Jukka AHTELA (Finland)

Delivering on balanced economic growth and social progress should be the guiding principle for the debate on the social dimension of Europe. A clear road map for the implementation of European Pillar of Social Rights is advisable with clear assignment of tasks coupled with accountability. The social dimension debate is connected to the debate on deepening the EMU. Social policy has to be embedded in a different EU economic policy. A strong EU can shape globalisation and digitalisation to the benefit of all.

EESC opinion: Impact of the social dimension and the European Pillar of Social Rights on the Future of the European Union

Financing of CSOs by the EU (own-initiative opinion)

Adopted on 19/10/2017
Reference: 
SOC/563-EESC-2017-01953-00-01-ac-tra
Rapporteur: 
Jean-Marc ROIRANT (France)

In this own-initiative opinion the EESC calls on the European institutions to promote a positive image of CSOs, preserve their independence and strengthen their capacity for action.
Beside a detailed diagnosis of the situation and role of civil society organisations, the EESC presents 26 recommendations for better civil dialogue and access to resources, including ideas for the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework.
The EESC finds that financing of CSOs is essential for participatory democracy and that the article 11 of the TEU on structured dialogue with civil society must be properly implemented. It calls also for the establishment of an EU Ombudsman on civic space freedoms and of a European fund for democracy, human rights and values within the EU.

EESC opinion: Financing of CSOs by the EU (own-initiative opinion)

European control mechanism on the rule of law and fundamental rights (own-initiative opinion)

Adopted on 19/10/2016
Reference: 
SOC/536-EESC-2016-01275-00-01-ac
Rapporteur: 
José Antonio MORENO DÍAZ (Workers - GR II / Spain)
Co-rapporteur: 
Ákos TOPOLÁNSZKY (Diversity Europe - GR III/Hungary)

Alarming political decisions have shown that the EU lacks adequate instruments to safeguard fundamental values and the rule of law. A new European mechanism on the rule of law and fundamental rights is needed. The mechanism should include a regular assessment of Member States in a governance "policy coordination cycle", similar to the European Semester. The EESC should play an active role, as this will make for strong civil society involvement. The mechanism must be based on indicators, taking into account the indivisibility of fundamental economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights.

 

 

EESC opinion: European control mechanism on the rule of law and fundamental rights (own-initiative opinion)

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