Recently, Denmark, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands jointly called on the European Commission to develop an effective mechanism to strengthen the rule of law and fundamental values in the EU. On 11 March 2014, the Commission published a proposal for a new European framework for the protection of fundamental values in EU member states.
Our common values are what bind the countries of the European Union together. We actively promote those values worldwide. We also need to ensure that these values are safeguarded within Europe.
The Embassies of Denmark, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands, together with the European Commission, Providus and the Riga Graduate School of Law are organizing a seminar to discuss the rule of law and human rights in Europe. The central questions of the seminar are: Is there room for improvement in Europe? And if so, what is the best way to ensure it in the European Union?
Moderator: Andris Spruds, Director Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA)
15:00 – 15:30 Registration & Coffee
15:30 – 16:00 Introductory Remarks:
- Peter Gjortler, Associate Professor at the RGSL
- Henk van den Dool, Ambassador of the Netherlands
- Baiba Broka, Minister of Justice of Latvia
16:00 – 18:00 Panel discussion:
- Robin Harms, Advisor of Minister of Justice of Finland
- Ernst Hirsch Ballin, Former Minister of Justice of the Netherlands
- Morten Kjærum, Director of EU Agency for Fundamental Rights
- Viktors Makarovs, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
- Stefanie Schmahl, Professor for German and Foreign Public Law, International Law and European Law, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany
18:00 – 19:00 Reception