Photo: (from left) Christian Moos (co-rapporteur), Julian Plottka (expert), Ozlem Yildirim (rapporteur), Viktor Zoltan Kazai (expert). Credits: Doudkine Anna Darmetko
Julian Plottka, research associate at the Jean Monnet Chair for European Politics at the University of Passau, advises the German co-rapporteur at the EESC Christian Moos, Secretary General of the Europa-Union Deutschland, European Affairs Officer of the “Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement” and Head of the Strategic Planning Staff of the German trade union “Deutscher Beamtenbund”. He is drafting the opinion together with the rapporteur Ozlem Yildirim, deputy head of the International Department at the French Confédération générale du travail (CGT).
Despite many persistent rule of law deficits in EU member states, the European Commission saw a slightly positive trend. In its last report of 2023, it found that the member states had already implemented 65 per cent of their previous reform recommendations. However, representatives of civil society criticise that the EU lacks instruments to enforce reforms which have not been implemented, yet.
The current analysis is insufficient in terms of of political threats to media pluralism.
Julian Plottka, research associate at the Jean Monnet Chair for European Politics
In its annual Rule of Law Report, the Commission identifies shortcomings and challenges in all 27 member states, assesses overall developments and makes specific reform recommendations. To this end, it takes a closer look at four areas: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and media freedom. ‘Because the European Commission has a market based approach to address rule of law deficits in the latter two areas, the current analysis is insufficient in terms of of political threats to media pluralism,’ criticises Julian Plottka.
The Commission conducts an own analysis, but works closely with the member state governments that are responsible for the rule of law problems. The EESC advocates greater involvement of organised civil society in the preparation of the report, as non-governmental organisations in particular are critics of governments and well aware of the problems in the EU member states. ‘Unfortunately, the Commission has a strong influence on the selection of civil society organisations that are consulted,’ criticises Christian Moos. Therefore, he proposes a structured civil dialogue at EU level, involving the EESC and the pan-European network “Civil Society Europe”. ‘Such a dialogue with independent civil society would provide continuous, transparent and reliable support for the rule of law mechanism.’
The dialogue with independent civil society would provide continuous, transparent and reliable support for the rule of law mechanism.
Christian Moos, German co-rapporteur at the EESC
Julian Plottka has previously advised the EESC on several rule of law initiatives and other topics, such as the European Media Freedom Act, the directive on the prevention of strategic litigation against public participation and, most recently, the draft directive on transparency standards for interest representatives acting on behalf of third countries. This draft provides for an EU-wide register for all lobbyists who represent the interests of foreign governments in the EU, except diplomats. The initiative shares its goal with the so-called ‘foreign agent law’, which has recently been criticised in Georgia in particular. The EU institutions are currently negotiating how this goal can be achieved by more democratic means than in Georgia.
This text was machine-translated from German.
Professor Daniel Göler
Where is the European Union going?
Where is the European Union going?
Professor Daniel Göler holds the Jean Monnet Chair of European Politics at the University of Passau. His research focuses on all matters concerning European integration. Naturally, this involves academic networking across the globe. At the same time, the chair makes European political topics accessible to the general public by organising events and publishing the Jean Monnet Papers.
