Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The public affairs ministers of the governments of the member states of the European Union will hold a meeting tomorrow, Monday, in Brussels. According to a statement issued by the federal institutions, the Belgian presidency will present the current periodic and plenary priorities during its term in office. Ministers will have the opportunity to provide their comments.
Annual dialogue on the rule of law
As part of its annual dialogue on the rule of law, the Council will hold a country-specific discussion. The discussion will focus on Spain, France, Croatia and Italy. On the sidelines of the General Affairs Council, an intergovernmental conference will be held with Montenegro on January 29.
Defending democracy
The Council will hold a political debate on the "Defending European Democracy" package. The discussion will be in public session.
According to what was issued by the European Union institutions, the Defense of Democracy Package is part of a group of initiatives that represent a proactive approach to supporting the values of the European Union. Since 2020, the Commission has examined the situation in Member States in its annual reports on the rule of law. The Anti-Corruption 18 and Ethics 19 initiatives introduced in early 2023 also seek to protect democracy from the corrosive influence of corruption, including from foreign actors. The latest Joint Communication on Combating Hate 20 aims to intensify the EU's action against hate and to promote an inclusive, diverse and democratic Europe. The Commission implements anti-discrimination strategies, which also promote equal opportunities for inclusive participation and engagement 21 . The 2022 report on the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights 22 focused on civic space and its role in protecting and promoting fundamental rights. Putting people and their rights at the heart of digital transformation is also a fundamental principle in the EU's approach to digitalization and technological progress 23 . This approach is also at the heart of EU enlargement policy, and guides EU action around the world to support and promote democracy and the universal values of human rights and the rule of law in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020). -2024) 24. In all its work, the European Union is committed to engaging with organizations that respect democratic values and fundamental rights, as set out in Article 2 of the TEU and in the Charter.