Sophie Wilmès was elected on Thursday to chair the European Parliament working group that monitors violations of the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU, the former Belgian Prime Minister announced in a statement.
The European Parliament's Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group was set up in 2018, following the murders of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak and his partner.
In addition to the "isolated and systemic" violations of the rule of law and fundamental rights, Ms. Wilmès also cited the need to reflect on the fight against corruption, access to justice and media freedom.
It will also be necessary "to initiate a real reflection on the toolbox that exists within the Union to react to violations observed," she added.
During the previous legislature, the European Parliament unsuccessfully called on the Member States to make progress in implementing the Article 7 procedure against Viktor Orban's Hungary.
The procedure allows sanctions to be taken against a Member State that does not respect the fundamental values of the Union.
The assembly is also challenging, in the European courts, the European Commission's unfreezing of €10.2 billion in funds for Hungary, despite the country's failure to meet its obligations in terms of the rule of law.
