ECNL, Civil Society Europe, and other civil society partners call on the European Commission to strengthen the rule of law mechanism by including stronger civic freedoms and civil society protection. Some of the recommendations that the future MSs rule of law reports should contain are: Revised methodology to set a clear link between the respect of the rule of law and the existence of enabling civic space; Integrate civic space indicators in the periodic monitoring exercise by recognizing civic space as a rule of law pillar; Identify and adopt a framework for assessing civic space realities; Include civic space in its impact assessment on fundamental rights; Establish an alert mechanism for CSOs to signal the EC about severe fundamental freedoms’ violations; Create a position of an EU Coordinator on the rule of law and civic space to ensure monitoring, verification, and analysis of civic space issues. Read more here.
Source: ECNL