Democracy Impacts

Cyber Attacks on Ukraine leave Western Experts Seeking Best Response

January 19, 2022

Seizing the opportunity of the stand off between Russia and the West over Ukraine, hackers are disrupting various sites including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with cyber attacks and misinformation, leaving leading experts seeking the best response.
EU will Demand Poland Pay Fines for Disciplining Judges

January 12, 2022

According to Reuters, In one of the many battles between the European Union (EU) and Poland, Věra Jourová, EU Commissioner for Values and Transparency has announced that the EU is set to demand that Poland pay an estimated €70 million of fines in the coming weeks for failing to remove their system of disciplining judges.
EU Flag Flies Solo Under Arc de Triomphe Causing Political Outcry

January 05, 2022

French President Emmanuel Macron decided to fly the EU flag solo under the Arc de Triomphe, which honors those who fought and died for France in battle and houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to mark France’s EU Presidency, which took place on January 1, causing a political outcry from those concerned France’s history and identity are being erased.
Romanian PM: EU Law Prevails in Romania

January 04, 2022

Following the press release from the Romanian Constitutional Court on December 23, 2021 informing that their Constitution includes provisions that prevent the full prevalence of EU law at a national level, the Romanian prime minister Ciuca and minister of justice Catalin Predoiu made statements assuring that the EU law prevails in Romania.
Orban Will Keep Immigration Law despite EU Court Ruling

December 22, 2021

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced at a press conference that Hungary won’t change its immigration laws after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Hungary had “failed to fulfill its obligations” under EU law by passing a 2018 bill preventing people from applying for asylum if they come to Hungary from a country where their life and freedom were not at risk.
European Commission to Start Legal Action Against Poland Over Rule of Law

December 22, 2021

The European Commission will begin an infringement procedure against Poland for undermining EU law by sending a formal notice, giving Poland two months to reply and fulfill its obligations under EU law.
Hungary's Top Court Avoids Ruling on Primacy of EU law

December 15, 2021

While avoiding ruling on primacy of European Union law, Hungary's Constitutional Court authorizes government action in absence of adequate EU rules.
Euroscepticism in the EU after Brexit

December 08, 2021

Rónán Duffy writing in thejournal.ie explores euroscepticism in the European Union (EU) since Brexit, highlighting that near 30% of MEPs have been identified as being various shades of eurosceptic.
EU Attacks Top Court Appointments in Georgia

December 04, 2021

Following Georgia’s four lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court, the EU’s Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Peter Stano criticized the action and reminded Georgia that the EU assistance to Georgia “remains conditional on progress on key reforms, including on judiciary.”
Polish Tribunal Rules ECtHR Cannot Question its Judges

December 01, 2021

Poland's Constitutional Tribunal, rejecting a ruling by Europe's top human rights court in May, said that the European Court of Human Rights had no power to question its appointment of judges.