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July began with Denmark taking over the rotating EU Presidency from Poland. During its term, its two overarching priorities are a secure Europe and a competitive and green Europe.
Just before Brussels emptied for summer recess, the political season ended on a note as stormy as the weather, as Von der Leyen faced a no-confidence vote at the beginning of the month. She survived - this time - with the majority of the members of the European Parliament backing her, but media reports suggest that MEPs are running out of patience with the German politician.
Political commentators were left scratching their heads as the Commission finally unveiled its proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which amounts to almost €1.8 trillion. Their confusion arose as the budget restructuring saw several priorities bundled into a single pot.
And in Berlin, the EU's Democracy Commissioner Michael McGrath called out “creeping authoritarianism” during a speech, warning about the "quiet erosion of our democracies". Sounds like he read Liberties' Rule of Law Report 2025.
In Focus
Liberties’ Submission to the Consultation on Article 18 of the European Media Freedom Act
Liberties used this consultation opportunity to highlight the importance of ensuring that all media outlets that operate online are able to enjoy the protections set out in the European Media Freedom Act. Learn more
Liberties’ Submission to the Targeted Stakeholder Consultation on Classification of AI Systems as High-Risk
Liberties used this opportunity to highlight its ongoing case against Hungarian authorities for their use of surveillance technology and push EU officials to devise clear guidelines to strengthen the application and enforcement of the AI Act. Read more
Strengthen Your Organisation’s Cybersecurity Self-Awareness
Civil society organisations are facing an evolving digital environment with new threats every day. Liberties’ free new crash course will teach you how to keep your organisation safe online and stay cyber-aware.
Sign up to our Cybersecurity Self-Awareness Crash Course for NGOs here
EU Rule of Law Report 2025: Progress Stalls as Systemic Failures Persist
Despite clearer analysis in the EU’s 2025 Rule of Law Report, the gap between repeated warnings and real consequences continues to widen. Get the full story
In the news
Italy's new security laws: a democracy threat? - Watch the full documentary (ARTE in English) - Skip to 3.30 to see Kersty McCourt, Liberties Senior Advocacy Advisor, discuss our Rule of Law Report 2025
Reading/Watching/Listening
(Politico)
(EUObserver)
(Politico)
(EUObserver)
Member Corner
Malta: Tabling Motion - A pop-up activist art installation
The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation is collaborating on Tabling Emotion, a pop-up activist art installation that draws attention to seven cases of unnatural deaths where justice has not yet been served or where it was long delayed. The exhibition is part of the Foundation’s wider project on the length of judicial proceedings in Malta. The EU Justice Scoreboard ranks Malta among the worst-performing EU member states in all categories of justice, including length of proceedings.
In Tabling Emotion, a poignant display of personal artefacts arranged on a table evokes empathy with and remembrance of the victims, and a glimpse at the pain caused by the justice system in Malta and the countless other cases that have faced the insensitivity of the system. Accompanying artworks by socially engaged artists amplify the call to witness, reflect, and advocate for justice and accountability. By humanising stories and experiences, the exhibition seeks to inspire dialogue and empathy, inviting viewers to reflect on the emotional weight of unresolved stories and showcasing the broader societal implications of miscarriages and delays of justice.
Tabling Emotion is an initiative of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation and the Public Interest Litigation Network that it had set up, in collaboration with R Gallery and curated by Andrew Borg Wirth.
Ireland: Right to protest, freedom of expression and assembly must be upheld, says ICCL
It is crucial to our democracy that protest is facilitated and that our rights to assemble and express our opinions are protected.
As we witness genocide unfold in Gaza, ICCL calls on the Garda Commissioner, policing oversight bodies and Minister for Justice to ensure that these rights are upheld. Read their
statement in full.
Germany: Hands off my phone data
GFF are taking a case before the German Federal Constitutional Court to challenge the police's ability to access any data on a confiscated phone, even without any suspicion that the person has committed a crime. Learn more.
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