Belgium has been without a fully functioning government since December 2018. In May 2019 a general election was held but as the political landscape is very fragmented the parties were not able to form a coalition (see previous update).

In an attempt to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lithuanian government announced a national lockdown on 16th March 2020.

Our advocacy officer Linda Ravo shares her thoughts on what the president of the European Commission should address in this year's State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech to strengthen democracy.

​Hungary PM Viktor Orban wants to block the 750 billion EUR recovery aid for all Europeans, if EU funds will be tied to respect of democratic values and human rights.​

Catalan independence campaigners are suspected to have been targeted by government services using spyware, which is allegedly only sold to governments for the purpose of surveilling criminals and terrorists.

Georgiana Gheorghe, executive director of APADOR-CH, expressed her deep concern regarding the lack of clarity surrounding the law on preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing, as previously reported by the Monitor.

Several civil society organisations, international organisations and legal experts found the new legal developments worrisome. Many believe that the law is yet another politicised attempt to curtail asylum.

The government claimed that the law was needed to counter money-laundering and boost transparency. However, the law has long been perceived as part of Hungary’s right-wing government’s hatemongering against philanthropist George Soros.

Coronavirus contact-tracing apps are being launched across Europe. Do you know more about the app than it knows about you?

In Italy associations dedicated to taking care of victims in war zones, saving migrants and assisting other marginalised groups have mobilized.