Reacting to the latest Commission’s annual rule of law report, MEPs are deeply concerned that democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights across the EU are eroding, in a draft report adopted with 42 votes in favour, ten against, two abstentions. They also criticise specific countries where major problems are identified.

Institutions under threat

Key issues mentioned in the text include:

• justice and prosecutorial systems, including reforms in Slovakia, and the amnesty law in Spain;
• corruption and the major obstacles whistleblowers face;
• the situation in Malta regarding the “golden passport” scheme and a culture of impunity identified by the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia;
• the state of independent authorities, including recent developments in Greece on the use of spyware;
• media pluralism and freedom, including the planned restructuring of the Radio and Television of Slovakia; and
• the protection of journalists from threats, SLAPPs, and spyware,…