Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law

This page is also available in:

The EU is not only a common market; it is a union of common values that shape the European identity. These values are set out in the Treaty on the European Union and also include the rights, freedoms and principles laid out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights: the "indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; [the Union] is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice."

The Charter brings together into a single text all the personal, civic, political, economic and social rights enjoyed by people within the EU and apply to the EU institutions and Member States when they implement EU law.

The EESC is very active in the promotion of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy, and especially in the fight against discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, disability or gender. In 2018, it established the Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law to further expand analysis of the situation across Europe and promote a constructive dialogue amongst all stakeholders.

Displaying 61 - 70 of 131

  • A strong democracy must allow criticism

    An EESC visit to Poland finds the country increasingly divided and its civil society hampered in the exercise of fundamental freedoms

  • Following the deterioration in human rights and the state of democracy, the EESC sets up a study group on fundamental rights and the Rule of Law

    The situation in some Member States has led us to create a strategy for defending the Rule of Law, human rights and the concept of liberal democracy, said José Antonio Moreno Díaz, president of a new group on fundamental rights and the Rule of Law. Fact-finding missions to Poland, Hungary or Romania will be a starting point for the group, established by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) earlier this year and which held its first meeting on 11 June in Brussels.

  • Building Together the EU We Want

    2 Van Maerlant Street
    Brussels and online
    Belgium

    Registration is now closed. We invite you to follow live via webstreaming.

  • Strengthening civil society and participatory democracy in the EU: the way forward

    Conference
    EESC, 99, Rue Belliard, Room JDE62 & Interactio
    Brussels and online
    Belgium

    Registration for this event is now closed. You can follow via live webstreaming.

  • Corruption public procurement

    Corruption in public procurement and its impact on internal market

    Public hearing
    16 October 2023 | 10:30 - 13:00 | EESC | Room VMA 23 | EESC van Maerlant Building
    Belgium

    The purpose of the hearing was to contribute to the EESC own-initiative opinion with a deeper analysis of the issue of corruption in public procurement and its impacts, bringing attention to how challenges to the rule of law affect the internal market.

  • -

    Democracy, fundamental rights and the Swedish model

    Conference of the Workers' Group
    Conference
    Citykonferensen,
    Malmskillnadsgatan 46, 111 84 Stockholm
    Stockholm
    Sweden

    The Workers' Group is organising a conference in Stockholm on 11/12 May, on the occasion of the Council of the European Union Swedish Presidency.

  • Civil society organisations defending and strengthening European democracy

    Extraordinary meeting of the Civil Society Organisations' Group
    EESC
    Brussels
    Belgium

    Registrations for the conference are now closed. We invite you to follow the event via live stream at: https://europa.eu/!bKTWBr

  • Civil society support and funding in the area of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy

    EESC, Rue Belliard 99, 1040
    Brussels
    Belgium

    Civil Society Organisations active on fundamental rights, the rule of law, and democracy are confronted with increasing difficulties, from regulatory challenges to financial constraints and concerted attacks on their work and credibility. At the hearing, the EESC intends to engage with CSOs and other relevant stakeholders to identify the main issues they face and propose ways of improving support. The hearing will feed into the opinion, which will have a particular focus on EU funding.

  • My body, my choice: protecting women's sexual and reproductive health and rights

    Hearing of the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group
    EESC, Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels
    Brussels and on line
    Belgium

    Recent developments in the US and some European countries have shown that rights acquired by women are not irreversible. This particularly applies to sexual and reproductive health and rights. These questions are a matter of individual rights but also of public health, as sexual and reproductive health services are an essential part of comprehensive healthcare provision. Societal debates on the questions tend more and more towards polarisation, at the expense of women who can become deprived of their free and informed choice. The hearing will gather the view of civil society on these developments.

  • Annual Conference on Fundamental rights and the Rule of Law - Putting the Rule of Law Report recommendations into action

    Conference
    EESC, Room JDE 62 and online | 10:00 - 17:30 | Rue Belliard 99, 1040
    Brussels
    Belgium

    The EESC FRRL Group's annual conference will provide a platform for debate of the European Commission's third Report on the Rule of Law (July 2022), which for the first time entails country specific recommendations.

    It will gather EESC Members, civil society representatives (including social partners), EU institutions and other stakeholders to discuss the main developments in the EU in the area of fundamental rights and the rule of law over the past year.

    On the occasion of the conference, the FRRL Group will issue its second synthesis report covering the visits carried out in 2020-2021.

Displaying 61 - 70 of 131