The European Parliament adopted a resolution criticizing Greece and other EU member states

The European Parliament voted in favor of the resolution “Freedoms, equality and dignity are under threat in Greece”. The EP expressed concerns about media freedom, corruption and personal freedoms.

EP report

“Freedoms, equality and dignity are under threat” – emphasizes the European Parliament on Thursday, January 18, 2024. In its resolution on fundamental rights, which is at the center of the report, it notes “the alarming situation in Greece” media reports.

The European Parliament report expressed concern about this. Among other things, it is emphasized that EU must ensure the rights of women, children, LGBTI+ and vulnerable groups.

At the same time, the report contains specific recommendations for Hungary, Poland, Greece, Cyprus and Spain. The EP reviewed the state of citizens’ rights in the EU in 2022 and 2023, identifying a number of worrying developments in member states. The report on the state of fundamental rights in the European Union was adopted by 391 votes to 130, with 20 abstentions.

The European Parliament calls for justice over the murders of journalists and welcomes agreement on media freedom legislation. It reiterates its concern about the use of spyware, emphasizing the need for strict market regulation and calling on EU countries in particular Greece, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Cyprusfollow the recommendations of Parliament on this issue.

Rollback in women’s and LGBTI+ rights

In their text, MEPs recall that gender-based violence is particularly widespread in all EU countries, and categorically condemn the rapid erosion of women’s and LGBTI+ rights in a number of member states, including the denial of access to safe and legal abortion in Poland.

In the case of Hungary, the Parliament calls on the European Council to determine whether serious and lasting violations of EU values ​​have been committed in accordance with Article 7(2) TEU and deeply regrets the authorities’ persecution of the LGBTI+ community.

Parliament reiterates its call for the speedy conclusion of negotiations on the directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence, as well as including gender-based violence as an EU crime.

Increasing level of corruption

Parliament expresses deep concern about the growing level of corruption in a number of EU countries and reiterates its condemnation of reports of incidents involving high-ranking officials and politicians, including current and former MEPs.

The EU’s anti-corruption framework and the Witness Protection Directive in the public interest must be fully implemented in member states, and an independent EU ethics body must be created, MEPs say. Parliament also opposes attempts by governments to influence the independence of the judiciary and calls for effective democratic and constitutional control.

Other areas of concern include:

• threats to freedom of association, speech and assembly, including police brutality and mass incarceration
• misinformation regarding the need to protect artistic freedom
• attacks on religious and racial grounds, and that not all Member States have fully implemented the framework decision to combat racism and xenophobia
• police violence against Roma
• widespread violations of fundamental rights against migrants and refugees, and the codification of denials in national legislation
• the right of children to equal recognition of kinship throughout the EU (adoption of children by LGBTI+ couples)
• risk of biases inherent in new technologies, including artificial intelligence
• social, economic and environmental rights (e.g. poverty and social exclusion, digital poverty)
• improving institutional guarantees (including the re-establishment of the Fundamental Rights Organization as an independent human rights body).

“Rights are not optional”

“Violations of fundamental rights are widespread in EU member states. In this light, any crisis is a test, since respect for fundamental rights cannot depend on favorable economic and social conditions. Rights are not optional, they are the essence of our societies and are a key fundamental value of the EU “, – commented the speaker Katharina Barley (socialists, Germany).

Source link