‘The future of the Balkans is within the European Union’ – we now know that this statement made after the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003 was more of a sentimental outcry than an actual call to action.
The Conference on the Future of the Europe seeks to tackle the long-criticised ‘democratic deficit’ of the European Union with its emphasis on citizen involvement and deliberation via a digital platform launched in April 2021.
Debt mutualisation across EU Member States has recently been brought to the forefront of discussion. Firstly, because of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) balance-sheet operations, through Eurozone members’ public debt purchases in financial markets or via TARGET2 balances, where the balance of payments amongst countries are recorded.
The crisis in the rule of law that Poland has witnessed since 2015 must be contained as soon as possible. Any proposal to restore the rule of law must follow certain principles such as legality, proportionality and respect for fundamental rights.
As a member of various international and European organisations, Poland is bound by the requirement to respect the rule of law so as to effectively fulfil its commitments and ensure sincere cooperation between all member states.
The new Commission report on the rule of law in the EU has found that ‘there are serious challenges, cases where the resilience of rule of law safeguards is being tested and where shortcomings become more evident’.
Incumbent President Andrzej Duda or Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski? That is the choice facing Polish voters on 12 June, in the second round of the presidential elections.
The presidential elections in Poland in 2020, which were won by the incumbent Andrzej Duda, the candidate of the ruling Law and Justice party, indicate that we may expect the further deterioration of the rule of law in Poland.