EP rapporteur criticises 'rule of law'

European Parliament (EP) deputy Dutch Sophie in 't Veld stated that she has serious concerns about democracy and rule of law in some of the European Union (EU) countries, especially Greece, and criticised the EU Commission and the EP presidency for not taking this situation seriously.

In 't Veld made a presentation as rapporteur on the Rule of Law report prepared by the EU Commission every year on issues such as the independence and effectiveness of justice systems in member states, legal frameworks for combating corruption and freedom of the press.

Speaking first at a press conference and then at the EP Plenary, in 't Veld said that in some member states there is a systemic and in others a specific erosion of the rule of law.

In 't Veld stated that the EU Commission's report does not reflect this worrying picture and stated that Greece, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Italy are among these countries.

Referring to the strengthening of extremist political parties, in 't Veld noted that judicial independence has become a problem in many EU member states.

In 't Veld reminded that a year has passed since the train crash in Greece that killed 57 people and said, "You see that corruption and fraud can literally cost innocent lives."

Referring to the scandal in which people such as PASOK - KINAL leader and MEP Nikos Androulakis and journalist Tanasis Kukakis were wiretapped, in 't Veld said

"Some of our colleagues have been targeted by spyware. I was surprised and concerned to see that the leadership of this parliament is treating this as some kind of minor technicality, when in fact it is an attack on democracy. If this parliament does not take the security, independence and freedom of its members seriously, then how can we be a counterbalancing force against the executive? This worries me very much. I think parliamentary democracy is under enormous pressure."