While the European Commission proposed, on Wednesday 27 May, to link both economic recovery funds and European budget funds to the criteria for the respect of the rule of law (see EUROPE 12494/8), the S&D group in the European Parliament proposed, on 28 May, a ‘Recovery Plan for Democracy and Fundamental Rights’ (https://bit.ly/2yE95tG ).
“Civil liberties, justice and home affairs are at the heart of citizens' political concerns. In this respect, we call upon governments and the European Union to protect the rights of all”, says the group in the preamble. And while the crisis has legitimately “forced decision-makers to take decisions in an unprecedented emergency”, some measures “were taken without a full and adequate assessment”. Regarding the rule of law, in addition to the possibility of suspending payments under the European budget, MEPs also call on the Council of the EU to apply Article 7 of the Treaty correctly and for the Commission to draw concrete conclusions, when assessing the emergency measures.
The Plan even calls on Member States to return to free movement in the Schengen area and to respect the rights of asylum seekers during the crisis. It still deals with individual liberties and data protection at the time of tracing applications. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)