SEMINAR ON THE RULE OF LAW IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

The European Parliament in Brussels hosted a seminar on the Rule of Law in the European Union, organised by Zarzalejos for professors and postgraduate students from UNED, with the aim of offering a first-hand look at the European mechanisms for democratic oversight.

The round table brought together Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE); Ana Gallego, Director-General for Justice and Consumers at the European Commission; and Michał Wawrykiewicz, Polish MEP from the EPP and spokesperson for the Monitoring Group on Rule of Law, Democracy and Fundamental Rights.

Zarzalejos opened the session by highlighting the Parliament’s role in monitoring the Rule of Law and in demanding coherence in responding to any democratic backsliding. Ana Gallego elaborated on the functions of the European Commission as guardian of the Treaties, explaining the workings of Article 7, the conditionality mechanism and the Annual Rule of Law Report—key tools for monitoring compliance with fundamental values.

Wawrykiewicz, for his part, analysed recent political developments in Poland, stressing that many of the challenges identified by the Commission in his country show significant parallels with the Spanish case, particularly with regard to institutional deterioration and tensions around judicial independence.

The speakers agreed that protecting the Rule of Law requires close coordination between the Commission, the Council and the Parliament, as well as clear political determination to guarantee the credibility and cohesion of the European project.