18-03-2019 15:00
Rule of Law in the Accession Process

PHS 3C50, European Parliament, Brussels
Joint Hearing - AFET LIBE
Joint Hearing - AFET LIBE © European Parliament 2019 European Union

On Monday 18 March 2019, the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET), and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) will hold a public hearing on the rule of law in the accession process.

The hearing will examine the progress and persisting flaws in fulfilling the fundamental criteria of the EU acquis (Chapters 23 and 24) by EU aspirants, in line with Article 2 TEU, covering the shared values of democracy, rule of law and respect for fundamental rights. When acceding to the European Union, candidate countries have to fulfil the so-called Copenhagen criteria. Practice has shown that these criteria represent a considerable challenge and that their monitoring after accession can be difficult. Speakers include Mr Gianni Buquicchio, President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, as well as representatives of the European Commission, the International Monitoring Operation in Albania, academia and think tanks.