Welcome to Liberties' monthly round-up, where we catch you up on the most pressing human rights topics we've been working on. This month we published our initial reaction to the Commission's Rule of Law Report 2024, which was finally published after months of delay. We also wrote an educational article to understand the nuances of hate speech and penned an Op-Ed about the state of media freedom in Europe.
With most EU institutions officially on summer recess until September, Brussels will be deserted apart from tourists and tumbleweed blowing through the EU capital. One of the few officials still on duty is the ‘Queen of Europe’. Having been officially re-elected as Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen will soon assemble her College of Commissioners. The selection process, whereby each Member State nominates a candidate, is not without its controversies. Striving for a gender balanced College, von der Leyen has asked that each country submit one male and one female candidate. But at least six countries (let’s name and shame them: Ireland, Czech Republic, Greece, Austria, Malta, Slovenia) are digging their heels by refusing to submit a female candidate. Their non-cooperation might well be an own goal. Queen Ursula will be the one divvying out the Commission’s portfolios, as countries compete for the most coveted jobs.
In a nutshell
- Queen Ursula: To no one’s surprise, von der Leyen was re-elected as EU Commission President
- Next term: von der Leyen presented her Political Guidelines to the European Parliament for the next European Commission 2024-2029.
In focus
The European Commission fails to unlock the Rule of Law Report’s full potential
The European Commission’s fifth annual report on the rule of law situation in the EU was released. While Liberties will publish a more thorough gap analysis in September, here’s our initial reaction.
What is Hate Speech: Definition, Examples, Laws, Efforts Against it
Our right to speak truth to power is protected under free speech. But language used to spread violence and intolerance crosses the line into hate speech and isn’t protected under free speech. Check out our article, where we explore the nuances of hate speech.
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In the news
- RevDem: Op-Ed - Media Freedom Is in Peril Across the EU, and We Need More Than a New Law to Save It
- Euro Weekly News: Italian journalist fined €5,000 for mocking Giorgia Meloni´s height – personal or political?- Euro Weekly News
Member's corner
- No citizenship revocations on our watch: ICCL raised concerns about proposals to allow naturalised Irish citizens to have their citizenship revoked
- Pre-payment cards prohibit dignified existence: Together with PROASYL, GFF are taking several lawsuits against the introduction of pre-payment cards for asylum seekers
- Stockholm Pride: CRD brought together their Eurasian partners for their seminar ‘LGBTQ Activism in the Eurasia Region in times of war and oppression’
What we’re reading
- Elections: The 11 MEPs who actually matter- Politico
- Rule of law: Brussels berates Italy, Hungary and Slovakia for rule-of-law decline - euronews
- Protests: As Europe heats up, silencing climate activists is emerging as a troubling trend - euobservor
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Take care,
Eleanor & the Liberties Team
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