During the plenary session (11-13/11/2020), MEPs discuss and vote on a resolution scrutinizing the impact of the pandemic on democracy, fundamental rights, and rule of law.

Brussels

debate

plenary session

vote

LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Juan Fernando (S&D, ES)

GONZÁLEZ PONS, Esteban (EPP, ES)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

REYNDERS, Didier (BE, EC)

LAGODINSKY, Sergey (Greens/EFA, DE)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

Impact of Covid-19 measures on democracy, fundamental rights and rule of law: extracts from the debate (12/11) and from the vote

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Juan Fernando L&#211;PEZ AGUILAR (S&amp;D, ES), Author, We adopted a resolution in April, another one in May and in June on the impact of the emergency measures adopted by member states faced with the covid pandemic and its fallout. And this was having an impact on what, in my view, is the most important thing in what we do here in Europe, which was restriction of freedom of movement within the borders of the union. So we have put forward an oral question in response to this. And what's arisen from that oral question is, furthermore, a resolution with 23 recitals and another 23 points where we call on member states and on the commission to step up to live up to the expectations of citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Juan Fernando L&Oacute;PEZ AGUILAR (S&amp;D, ES), Author, And the aim of this resolution is to look length and breadth of the impact of these emergency measures on the fundamental rights of citizens. Firstly, the rights that are enshrined in the charter. Firstly, freedom of movement of citizens. We have the Schengen borders code. There is a directive on freedom of movement which was ignored, in fact, brushed away in the rush to adopt emergency measures. And the commission is the guardian of the treaties and must ensure that member states comply with the rule of proportionality when it comes to restricting freedom of movement and having these measures be temporary.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Juan Fernando L&Oacute;PEZ AGUILAR (S&amp;D, ES), Author, So the European Union has to adopt the right strategy in order to defend itself against cyber attacks, against cybercrime, but also to protect herself against disinformation. What concerns us in particular is the impact of emergency measures on criminal law, on disproportionate repressive criminal measures. That have no foundation in our law.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, From the outset, the commission has been focussed on the measures taken in reaction to the crisis, but at all times must respect our fundamental values as laid out in the treaties. The emergency measures must be limited to what is necessary, absolutely proportionate, clearly limited in time and in line with constitutional guarantees as well as European and international standards.

SOUNDBITE (English), Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, 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 of free movement in response to the covid-19 pandemic. You know, the common MUP that we have now published by the CDC every week and we try to fight against all the possible discriminations also with a dialogue between the commission and the member states.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Esteban GONZ&#193;LEZ PONS (EPP, ES), But we have to see whether these restrictions to individual freedoms have been adopted in conformity with guarantees under the rule of law. And I but I'm wondering, asking myself whether this parliament is closed off in a remote is in a position to be able to remind anybody of the importance of defending democratic principles in the face of quarantine and emergency laws.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (RE, NL), As this crisis is lasting longer than just a few weeks, we have to be very vigilant and we have to be very critical because as my colleague Bahle also indicated, there are some governments who are very cynically exploiting this pandemic to expand their own authoritarian empire. So, yes, it's the usual suspects. It's Hungary and it's Poland. And yes, it's again, at the expense of women's rights and LGBTI people's rights.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sergey LAGODINSKY (Greens/EFA, DE), Every time when the covid situation gets a little more sensitive in Hungary than Viktor Orban starts looking below the belt of his citizens. And he seemed to think that it was essential to remove the denomination and transgender in people's identity documents and right in the middle of the second wave.

Vice-President Rainer WIELAND announcing the results of the vote: 496 in favour, 138 against, 49 abstentions. 3 shots