Democracy and Rule of Law Archives

Let’s talk about encryption

Posted on 9 May 2023
by Ayla Elzinga
with 0 Comments

The awkward relationship between privacy and law enforcement. George Orwell’s ‘1984’ foreshadowed a terrifying dystopian reality, in which each individual is subjected to the far-stretching surveillance techniques of the state. The Edward Snowden revelations in 2013 showed that Orwell’s reality was perhaps closer than ever,…

It’s time to update the EU’s Regulation on Access to EU documents

Posted on 17 March 2022
by Ornella Rodriguez Lafuente
with 0 Comments

Concerns that the European Union lacks transparency have increased among civil society groups, journalists, and EU citizens in recent years. Access to European Union documents is and has always been a fundamental tool for ensuring transparency and increasing the accountability of EU public officials.…

No democracy, no cash: saving the Rule of Law in Europe

Posted on 9 March 2021
by Daria Stănculescu and Thomas van der Valk
with 0 Comments

The challenges of the EU’s new rule of law mechanism. The rule of law is one of the foundational values of the European Union and is the cornerstone of any well-functioning democracy. The Union institutions have repeatedly highlighted the importance of this principle, referring to…

Europe’s rule of law struggle

Posted on 10 April 2020
by Thomas van der Valk
with 0 Comments

The EU's tool box to save Poland and Hungary's democracies. Independent judges, free media, protection against discrimination and the freedom of thought and religion. They all depend on strong rule of law. In a democracy with the rule of law, the government faces checks and…