Freedom of thought
Polish president vetoes controversial court reforms
Poland's president on Monday (24 July) vetoed controversial judicial reforms that had prompted huge street protests and threats of unprecedented EU sanctions.
Candlelight protest against changes to Poland’s judiciary
Thousands of demonstrators bearing candles marched on the Polish Supreme Court on Sunday (23 July) in protest against controversial proposed judicial reforms.
European human rights court to rule on extremist online videos
Europe's top human rights court will rule on Thursday (19 July) whether online videos considered by a Belgian court to be Islamist hate speech should be allowed under free speech provisions.
Visegrad leaders say EU must show more support for Israel
The EU should better appreciate Israel’s key role in Middle Eastern stability, leaders of the Visegrad Four nations said yesterday (19 July) in a joint attack with Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Brussels’ current policy towards the Jewish state.
Timmermans dangles Article 7, makes appeal to the Poles
The Commission is likely to call for the triggering of Article 7 next Wednesday (26 July) with respect to Poland, often referred to as “the nuclear option” to punish an EU member state, it emerged following the weekly meeting of the EU executive today (19 July).
Meeting of minds as Netanyahu visits Orbán
Hungary welcomes Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu today (18 July) on a landmark visit that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hopes will bolster him in his battle with George Soros and deflect charges of stoking anti-Semitism.
Thousands protest ‘coup against constitution’ in Poland
Thousands of Poles protested on Sunday (16 July) against the government’s attempts to secure full control over the judiciary. EURACTIV Poland's editor-in-chief reports from Warsaw.
Russia turns its back on human rights with contempt for international court decisions
When members of the international community decide that human rights are a matter of expediency and not law, we are all at risk, warns Herta Däubler-Gmelin.
State-controlled Polish TV instigated hate against Brussels journalist
Dorota Bawołek, a respected Brussels journalist, has been the target of hundreds of insulting and threatening messages on social media, after state-controlled Polish TV said she asked the European Commission politically motivated questions with intent “to harm Poland”.
EU chiefs urge China to free political prisoners after Liu Xiaobo’s death
European Union chiefs called on China on Thursday (13 July) to free political prisoners after the death of Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo.
EU remains silent as Poland’s government assaults top court
The EU remained silent yesterday (13 July), despite being pressed by journalists to say something following the news that Poland's governing ultraconservatives tabled a bill in parliament that would subjugate the Supreme Court to executive power.
European Commission steps up infringement procedures against Hungary
The Commission opened an infringement procedure against Hungary on Thursday (13 July) for its new law on foreign-funded NGOs, and went a step further in another infringement it had launched in April over the Higher Education Law, that seeks to close the Central European University (CEU), founded by George Soros.
Poland’s ruling PiS passes law on judges, opposition sounds alarm
Lawmakers from Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party on Wednesday (12 July) pushed through a bill to give parliament a greater say in appointing judges, a move that the opposition and rights groups said violated the constitutional separation of powers.
Soros ‘distressed’ by ‘anti-Semitic’ Hungary campaign
US billionaire George Soros hit back yesterday (11 July) at a Hungarian government anti-immigration poster and media campaign that he said uses "anti-Semitic" imagery.
Top Europe court upholds ban on full-face veil in Belgium
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday (11 July) upheld a Belgian ban on wearing the full-face niqab veil in public, calling the restriction "necessary in a democratic society".
Hungarian hard right launches new anti-liberal, racist movement
Hundreds of Hungarian right-wing militants gathered in a Budapest suburb on Saturday (8 July) to launch a new political movement they hope will run in next year's parliamentary elections on a ticket that includes open racism.
Turkey detains 10 at human rights meeting, EU, US concerned
Turkish police have detained 10 people, including the local director of Amnesty International and other rights activists, on suspicion of membership in a terrorist organisation, Amnesty said yesterday (6 July) in what it called a "grotesque abuse of power".
In Warsaw, Trump gently criticises Russia
President Donald Trump affirmed the US commitment to the defence of NATO allies yesterday (6 July) in a Warsaw speech that gently criticised Russia, and he said Western civilization must stand up to "those who would subvert and destroy it".
Italy passes law making torture a crime, critics say full of holes
Italy's parliament yesterday (5 July) approved a long-awaited law criminalising torture, but critics said it had been so heavily watered down that many abuses may still go unpunished.
Merkel drops opposition to same-sex marriage
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has dropped her opposition to same-sex marriage, giving gay and lesbian groups reason to cheer, while depriving opposition parties of a key campaign issue three months before elections.
Social media giants step up fight against extremist content
Social media giants Facebook, Google's YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft said on Monday (26 June) they were forming a global working group to combine their efforts to remove terrorist content from their platforms.
Hungary’s justification of NGO law is false
In his response to a EURACTIV interview about Hungary’s NGO law, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács suggested that the Venice Commission approves of Hungary’s new NGO law. This is not the case, writes Heather Grabbe.
Macron reaffirms hope for EU ahead of first summit
On the eve of his first European summit (22-23 June), French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his belief in a Europe capable of transforming the world with France as a driving force.
Pressured in Europe, Facebook details removal of terrorism content
Facebook on Thursday (15 June) offered additional insight on its efforts to remove terrorism content, a response to political pressure in Europe to militant groups using the social network for propaganda and recruiting.
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