The Impact of Covid-19 Measures on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights in the EU

Abstract:

This Briefing was prepared by the Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs upon request of the LIBE committee Monitoring Group on Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights.

It focuses on the measures adopted by EU Member States to fight Covid-19 and their impact on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU. The Policy Department has monitored such measures and examined their impact in relation to: state of emergency and exceptional powers, the functioning of national parliaments and of the judiciary; freedom of movement; freedom of expression and of the media; freedom of assembly; privacy and data protection; asylum; prisons; discrimination and vulnerable groups; other issues of relevance for Art. 2 TEU.

The monitoring exercise reveals a series of areas of possible concern for the EU and the European Parliament. This exercise is notably useful in preparation of the first annual inter-institutional monitoring exercise in the framework of the new European mechanism on the Rule of Law.