Taking inspiration from the work of Douglass North, much institutional research attempts a distinction between 'formal' and 'informal' institutions. North often associated 'formal institutions' with rules enforced through a legal system. It is suggested here that this lead should be followed and...

The Commissioner-designate made a number of commitments in his written and oral responses. These are highlighted in this document, which has been produced to support Parliament's scrutiny of the Commission over the course of the 2024-2029 term, including through the Committees' annual structured...

The Commissioner-designate made a number of commitments in his written and oral responses. These are highlighted in this document, which has been produced to support Parliament's scrutiny of the Commission over the course of the 2024-2029 term, including through the Committees' annual structured...

This in-depth analysis (IDA) has been drafted to assist the European Parliament's Committees on Budgetary Control (CONT) and Budgets (BUDG) in the context of their work on an implementation report on the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation. Based on publicly available information, it provides...

This article explores the intersection of competition law and sustainability, particularly focusing on the role that Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union may play in this context. It presents a novel approach, categorizing the relationship between Article 102 and...

Russia's invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory since 2014 has forced its government to implement emergency measures that challenge legal order. This paper examines how citizens' exposure to these security responses shapes their perceptions of the rule of law. Using proximity to war...

This Perspective outlines the avenues, and potential obstacles, that may be encountered when a foreign investor challenges a state's invocation of national security interests in an international arbitration setting. This Perspective additionally considers the implications that increasingly...

Recent advances in AI create possibilities for delegating legal decision-making to machines or enhancing human adjudication through AI assistance. Using classic normative conflicts - the trolley problem and similar moral dilemmas - as a proof of concept, we examine the alignment between AI legal...

In July 2024, the European Union (EU) and the Serbian government signed a strategic raw materials partnership. For the EU, this cooperation represents an important step towards diversifying its supply chains and strengthening economic partnerships in its neighbourhood. Serbian President...

As part of the EESC's efforts to promote fundamental rights and the rule of law, a delegation of the EESC's Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law visited Italy on 16-17 October 2024. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, specifically from civil society...

As part of the EESC's efforts to promote fundamental rights and the rule of law, a delegation of the EESC's Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law visited Italy on 16-17 October 2024. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, specifically from civil society...

This paper examines the state and evolution of the rule of law in Mozambique, focusing on key dimensions such as voice and political participation, judicial independence and accessibility, corruption, access to basic services, personal security, and property rights. Drawing on Afrobarometer...

Using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and World Bank data, we produce a novel estimation for the prevalence of informal entrepreneurship in 60 countries in the period 2006- 2022. Using a real option framework, we test the effect of business regulation, property rights protection, and the rule of...

Constitutions as the formal foundation of a country's legal and political system have important economic and political effects. Yet, we still know little about why constitutions set effective constraints on politicians in some societies, while being largely disregarded in others. Here, we ask if...

As part of the EESC's efforts to promote fundamental rights and the rule of law, a delegation from the EESC's Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group visited Austria on 19 and 20 March 2025. The delegation met with several civil society representatives, specifically civil society organisations...

As part of the EESC's efforts to promote fundamental rights and the rule of law, a delegation from the EESC's Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group visited Austria on 19 and 20 March 2025. The delegation met with several civil society representatives, specifically civil society organisations...

Five EESC members took part in the visit to Serbia. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically of civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions. The aim of this report is to faithfully reflect and reproduce...

Five EESC members took part in the visit to Serbia. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically of civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions. The aim of this report is to faithfully reflect and reproduce...

As part of the EESC's efforts to promote fundamental rights and the rule of law, a delegation from the EESC's Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group visited France on 27 and 28 November 2024. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically civil society...

As part of the EESC's efforts to promote fundamental rights and the rule of law, a delegation from the EESC's Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group visited France on 27 and 28 November 2024. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically civil society...

onstitutions as the formal foundation of a country's legal and political system have important economic and political effects. Yet, we still know little about why constitutions set effective constraints on politicians in some societies, while being largely disregarded in others. Here, we ask if...

Populist governance is fundamentally at odds with constitutionalism. As a political project, populism rejects constraints on "the will of the people," including those essential to liberal-democratic constitutions. Yet, the extent to which elected populists actually undermine constitutional order...

Populist governance is fundamentally at odds with constitutionalism. As a political project, populism rejects constraints on "the will of the people," including those essential to liberal-democratic constitutions. Yet, the extent to which elected populists actually undermine constitutional order...

Am 24. März 2024 fanden im Senegal Wahlen für das Amt des Staatspräsidenten statt. Aus ihnen ging der zu diesem Zeitpunkt 43-jährige Oppositionspolitiker Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye als Sieger hervor. Am 02. April 2024 übernahm er die Amtsgeschäfte als fünfter Präsident der Republik...

The survey looks into several key aspects key as covered in the Rule of Law Report Key topics are: The support for EU values and the rule of law including the perceived importance of the EU's fundamental values, the perceived role of the EU in upholding the rule of law and the perceived level of...

The survey looks into several key aspects key as covered in the Rule of Law Report Key topics are: The support for EU values and the rule of law including the perceived importance of the EU's fundamental values, the perceived role of the EU in upholding the rule of law and the perceived level of...

Six EESC members took part in the visit to the Netherlands. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions, as well as the Dutch authorities. The aim of this report...

Six EESC members took part in the visit to the Netherlands. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions, as well as the Dutch authorities. The aim of this report...

Six members took part in the visit to Belgium. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, specifically civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions, as well as the Belgian authorities. The aim of this report is to faithfully...

Six members took part in the country visit to Estonia. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, specifically civil society organisations (CSOs) and social partners, on the one hand, and the Estonian authorities on the other. The aim of this report is to faithfully...

Luxembourg welcomes the work of the EESC's Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group and would like to highlight the constructive discussions that have taken place on 2-3 March 2023 in Luxembourg. While taking note of the observations made in the draft report following this visit, as received on...

Six members took part in the country visit to Estonia. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, specifically civil society organisations (CSOs) and social partners, on the one hand, and the Estonian authorities on the other. The aim of this report is to faithfully...

Luxembourg welcomes the work of the EESC's Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group and would like to highlight the constructive discussions that have taken place on 2-3 March 2023 in Luxembourg. While taking note of the observations made in the draft report following this visit, as received on...

Six members took part in the visit to Belgium. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, specifically civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions, as well as the Belgian authorities. The aim of this report is to faithfully...

This report provides an overview of the country visits organised by the EESC Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) group in 2022. It deals with six country visits to Greece, Finland, Slovakia, Portugal, Sweden and Slovenia. The report follows the two previous synthesis reports, which covered...

The rule of law is one of the founding values of the EU. This review contributes to a better understanding of the EU's rule of law landscape and its tools, focusing on the Commission's annual Rule of Law Report - a preventive tool that presents the Commission's assessment of significant rule of...

This report provides an overview of the country visits organised by the EESC Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) group in 2022. It deals with six country visits to Greece, Finland, Slovakia, Portugal, Sweden and Slovenia. The report follows the two previous synthesis reports, which covered...

The rule of law is one of the EU's fundamental common values. The situation has deteriorated in some member states over the last decade. The EU adopted a new instrument in December 2020 to protect its financial interests against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in EU countries: the...

The rule of law is one of the EU's fundamental common values. The situation has deteriorated in some member states over the last decade. The EU adopted a new instrument in December 2020 to protect its financial interests against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in EU countries: the...

This report aims to synthesise civil society's views on national trends in fundamental rights and the rule of law, drawing on the EESC Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) Group's first cycle of country visits. Covering the 27 EU Member States visited by the FRRL Group between 2018 and...

This report aims to synthesise civil society's views on national trends in fundamental rights and the rule of law, drawing on the EESC Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) Group's first cycle of country visits. Covering the 27 EU Member States visited by the FRRL Group between 2018 and...

Three EESC members took part in the visit to Moldova. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions. The aim of this report is to faithfully reflect and reproduce...

Three EESC members took part in the visit to Moldova. The delegation met with several representatives of civil society, more specifically civil society organisations (CSOs), the social partners, the media and the legal professions. The aim of this report is to faithfully reflect and reproduce...