Centre for the Rule of Law and European Values

ended

This project will establish the Centre for the Rule of Law and European Values (CRoLEV), which will focus durably on the rule of law, and EU values and principles in turbulent times. The rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights, jointly some of the fundamental values upon which the Union is built, are currently under threat, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe but also across the EU and in neighbouring countries. The current pandemic has brought to the forefront concerns about the state of the rule of law, its compatibility with emergency measures, and the deterioration of European values and principles. CRoLEV will adopt an interdisciplinary approach in order to enhance and disseminate high-quality research and knowledge transfer activities. More specifically, the project intends to (i) explore the state of the rule of law within the EU and in neighbouring countries, using empirical research; (ii) investigate the deterioration of the rule of law and EU values in times of crisis; (iii) evaluate the mechanisms available at the EU level to secure European values and rule of law protections; and (iv) deliver research-informed teaching designed to reach academics, students, and professionals, but also young people and the civil society. Strategically located in a region at the outskirts of the EU and working with strategic partners from within and outside the EU, CRoLEV will strengthen European studies in the region and disseminate research on the rule of law and European values in neighbouring countries, building bridges between the EU and its neighbours and help realise the European objective of reaching out to non-EU countries. The project’s outputs, ranging from an interactive dashboard and index tracking the state of the rule of law and European values in many countries to knowledge transfer and research materials, will be made publicly available and will be of value to state and EU authorities, as well as international actors within the EU and beyond.