LIBE_OJ(2015)03-30_2

<Commission>{LIBE}Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs</Commission>

LIBE_OJ(2015)0330_1

 

DRAFT PROGRAMME

Hearing

The situation of fundamental rights in the European Union

 

Monday 30 March 2015, 15.00 - 18.30

 

European Parliament, Brussels

Room Paul Henri Spaak (PHS) 1A 002

 

BACKGROUND

 

The European Parliament is uniquely placed as a fundamental rights actor. As a co-legislator, it has a decisive role in most EU law- and policy-making; its competences on the EU’s budget also enable it to play a great role in shaping the fundamental rights policy of the EU. Moreover, it is a privileged litigant before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

 

The European Parliament has stressed in its resolution of 27 February 2014 on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union (2012) that it is essential for the European Union, its institutions and the Member States to guarantee respect for the common European values, and called for the setting up of a mechanism to ensure that the fundamental rights and values of the Union referred to in Article 2 TEU and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights are respected, protected and promoted.

 

In March 2013, competent Ministers from four Member States (Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland) had sent a letter to the President of the Commission, stressing the need for a new and more effective mechanism to safeguard fundamental values in the European Union.  In March 2014, Commission issued its Communication on a new EU Framework to strengthen the Rule of Law. In December 2014, Council and the Member States meeting within the Council adopted their conclusions on ensuring respect for the rule of law.

 

In its resolution, Parliament had also called on Commission to establish a European policy cycle on the application of Article 2 TEU (democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights, equality) and an open annual interinstitutional forum on these European values, in particular the protection of fundamental rights. During his hearing in front of Parliament, Vice-President Timmermans committed to organize an annual colloquium on the state of play of fundamental rights in the Union, with the participation of all institutions.

 

The objective of the LIBE hearing on fundamental rights is, within the context of the reports on fundamental rights presented by the Fundamental Rights Agency and the initiatives by the European Commission, to contribute to the on-going dialogue on the mechanisms and methods to better safeguard the rule of law and the fundamental rights of persons in the Union.

Order of business

 

15.00-15.15

 

OPENING REMARKS   by Claude MORAES, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament   and

Laura FERRARA (EFDD), Rapporteur on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU

 

15.15 - 15.25  Frans TIMMERMANS

First Vice-President of the European Commission, in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights

15.25 - 15.35  Kristīne Līce ,

Chair, Council Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) (EU accession to ECHR)

15.35 - 15.45  Juliane KOKOTT

Advocate General, Court of Justice of the European Union

15.45 - 15.55  Nils MUIŽNIEKS

Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe

15.55 - 16.05  Iverna McGOWAN

Director of Programmes and Acting Director

Amnesty International European Institutions Office

16.05 - 16.35  Questions & Answers

16.35 - 16.45  Gabriel TOGGENBURG

Senior Legal Advisor,

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

16.45 - 16.55  Lotte LEICHT

European Union Advocacy Director and

Director of Human Rights Watch's Brussels office

16.55 - 17.05  Aleksandra IVANKOVIC-TAMAMOVIC

Milieu, presentation of the Policy Department C study on The impact of the crisis on fundamental rights

17.05 - 17.15  Rodolfo CATTANI

Vice-President Social Platform and

Secretary of European Disability Forum

17.15 - 17.25  Nicola GRATTERI

Prosecutor, Reggio Calabria Tribunal, Italy

17.25 - 18.15  Questions & Answers

 

Laura FERRARA (EFDD)

Rapporteur on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU and

Claude MORAES,

Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament.

Annex