A great piece I wish I’d read when I moved from academia to an NGO four years ago and began writing for non-academic audiences. Clarity isn’t easy—it’s vulnerable. But it matters.

The European Commission dropped its annual Rule of Law report on July 8 — there’s a lot to read and digest. The implementation stats aren’t exactly impressive but dig a little deeper and the picture gets more concerning. A few immediate reflections: 🧵 1/

Spanish judges have been making noise. The government's proposed judicial reform has sparked controversy—some view it as long overdue, while others perceive it as a threat to judicial independence. What's actually at stake? Who's right? Who's wrong? 🧵1/

A Threat to the Core: Why the New Hungarian Transparency Bill is an Attack on the Foundations of the European Union The first overview of the proposed law, by Prof Renáta Uitz on @verfassungsblog.de verfassungsblog.de/hungary-tran...

⚖️ Poland’s presidential election could make a night-and-day difference in the rule of law. One candidate supports the government's efforts to repair the rule of law, the other one is set to block them. Join our @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social and @mariaskora.bsky.social for a pre-election talk! 👇

📰Are you a young journalist passionate about #humanrights in the #EU? Your chance to report on the issues that matter is now! As part of our #FOCUS project our partners @areweeurope.bsky.social are launching a media fellowship! Apply before June 2👉 bit.ly/3H4BlZy Check out FOCUS👉 bit.ly/3AXln0o

Hungary's parliament approved a bill to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's criticisms of the court's impartiality. #EuropeNews

Today the European Parliament’s LIBE Committee is scheduled to vote on the draft resolution regarding the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report. The draft shows familiar concerns regarding the quality of the report and even a stronger emphasis on the use of enforcement tools. #RuleOfLaw #EU #EP 🧵1/

The-dog-ate-my-homework pretext for delaying the spyware abuse trial in Greece. One of the rare cases in Europe that made it to the court. Most spyware victims have no real legal remedy, impunity reigns for spyware abuse.

We (DRI) are finalizing data collection on compliance with the CJEU rulings in EU Member States. We'll cover the rulings issued between 1 January 2019 and 1 January 2025. The report will be launched in summer. It is the 3rd edition providing updated data. Some preliminary reflections here: 🧵1/

NEW! The Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act now has a new co-sponsor: Congressman Tom Suozzi H.R.243 👇 √ prohibits U.S. recognition of the GD regime √ recognizes President Zourabichvili as the only legitimate leader in Georgia until free and fair elections are held #StandWithGeorgianPEOPLE

With the news that most USAID grants are now canceled, here is something we wrote with my former colleague Sarah Repucci on the impact & some ways Europe could step up:

It is striking how autocratically inclined governments, and their allies have converged in attacking judges, using the same rhetoric and supporting one another. Hostile rhetoric towards judges has become increasingly evident in Italy, especially in response to court decisions on migration cases. 🧵1/

Coe Parliamentary Assembly ratified credentials of the Georgian delegation provisionally on condition that Georgian Dream staying in power through election fraud creates an environment for genuinely democratic NEW elections, ends police brutality/human rights abuses. pace.coe.int/pdf/73b6dc17...

The Georgian elections were deeply flawed and should be re-run under proper conditions. My piece with @ninotsereteli.bsky.social in @euobserver.com #Georgia

Some reflections of mine on Georgia post-elections: about judicial impotence in handling allegations of electoral fraud, public resistance and need for external engagement to defend democracy: verfassungsblog.de/georgia-elec...