Debate: The impact of COVID- measures on democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law
Date: THURSDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2020
Speaker: Didier Reynders
Language: FR

Au-delà de son incidence sanitaire et économique, la crise qui nous frappe a engendré toute une série de défis pour nos sociétés, y compris, comme cela vient d’être rappelé, pour les valeurs fondamentales de l’Union. Tous les États membres ont pris des mesures exceptionnelles pour protéger la santé publique, mesures qui ont eu pour conséquence des restrictions de certains droits et libertés fondamentales.  La plupart des États membres ont déclaré une forme d’état d’urgence ou octroyé des pouvoirs spéciaux d’urgence. Cela a été fait, soit en vertu de dispositions constitutionnelles, soit en vertu de la législation sur la protection de la santé publique.  La modification ou la suspension de l’équilibre normal des pouvoirs au niveau national peut effectivement poser des problèmes particuliers pour l’état de droit. La crise s’est avérée être un test de résistance permettant d’évaluer la résilience des systèmes nationaux en temps de crise.  La Commission a insisté dès le départ sur le fait que les mesures prises en réaction à la crise doivent respecter nos valeurs fondamentales, telles qu’énoncées dans les traités. Les mesures d’urgence doivent notamment être limitées à ce qui est nécessaire, strictement proportionnées, clairement limitées dans le temps et conformes aux garanties constitutionnelles ainsi qu’aux normes européennes et internationales. En outre, les gouvernements doivent veiller à ce que les mesures fassent l’objet d’un contrôle parlementaire régulier, dans le plein respect des équilibres démocratiques. These key requirements were reflected following the Commission’s proposal in the country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council, in the context of the European Semester this year. The Commission has been proactively monitoring the emergency measures taken in all the Member States. The first Annual Report on the Rule of Law highlighted the need to maintain established checks and balances, including the role of parliaments in particular, when the measures taken affect fundamental rights. The resilience of the justice systems was also put to the test. A number of Member States have taken measures to reduce the impact of the pandemic and were able to restart hearings applying distancing rules or video—conferencing techniques.  The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of accelerating reforms to digitalise the handling of cases by the judicial institutions, the exchange of information and documents with parties and lawyers, and continued and easy access to justice for all. We will continue to discuss with the Member States about a real investment in the digitalisation of the justice systems in all the Member States. On data protection, the Commission has already provided guidance and recommendations to Member States, in particular on apps supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  The European interoperability gateway for contact-tracing apps is now operational. It allows people to receive alerts and declare infections, also when abroad, using their home country’s app. It ensures a high level of personal data protection and security.  The Commission has continued to monitor the situation and tried to receive a positive answer from all the Member States to take part in such an interoperability gateway. It’s not already the case with all the Member States, but we are progressing. Néanmoins, ce sont les autorités nationales de contrôle de la protection des données et les cours et tribunaux nationaux qui sont en première ligne dans ce domaine, car ils ont la responsabilité principale de veiller au respect des règles. Ces autorités ont pour tâche de conseiller les législateurs nationaux et de surveiller que l’ensemble des opérateurs, publics ou privés, respectent la loi. Elles se coordonnent au sein du Comité européen de la protection des données et la Commission a régulièrement des échanges avec ce Comité européen de la protection des données. The crisis has also had an impact on democracy, electoral processes and freedom of expression. The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed been accompanied by an unprecedented flood of false or inaccurate information that can create confusion and distrust, undermine an effective public health response and have a negative impact on democratic institutions.  In June this year, the Commission adopted a communication as regards disinformation during the pandemic and getting the facts right. The upcoming democracy action plan will address further challenges along three main pillars: electoral integrity, a free and plural media and combating disinformation.  Closely linked to this action plan, in December the Commission will also issue its EU citizenship report which will present initiatives to promote the enjoyment by EU citizens of their civic rights under EU law. By the end of the year, the Commission will also publish a new strategy on implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and we will come with the first annual report on the new strategy next year before Parliament.  With regard to the right to free movement, a right cherished by many EU citizens, the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination must always be respected when restrictions are being considered. Since March 2020, the Commission has adopted a number of guidelines and communications, and following a Commission proposal the Council adopted on 13 October a recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restrictions on free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – you know the common map that we now have published by the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) every week – and we try also to fight against all possible forms of discrimination also with a dialogue between the Commission and the Member States.  Just to give an example, in the past months we have seen since the end of August a possible discrimination in Hungary with controls at the border except for travellers coming from the other three Visegrad countries – from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. I have had many contacts with the Hungarian authorities and at the end of October they prolonged the measures about border control but without any exceptions now for the three Visegrad countries. So the dialogue between the Commission and the Member States is also very important to try to avoid some kind of discrimination.  Thanks again for this opportunity to explain what we have been doing since the beginning of the crisis, since March, in the different fields and, of course, we will continue to do that. Oversight by the judicial systems and oversight by the parliaments, and also by the European Parliament is very important in the crisis and I am looking forward to this debate and to hearing your views on this important matter.