An EU accountability scoreboard to uphold the rule of law, political integrity and transparency

Article 2 TEU, the ‘holy grail’ of European integration, goes beyond mere virtue signalling. The commitment to uphold the rule of law is more extensive than appropriate legislative procedures, the separation of powers, proper enforcement and an independent judiciary. The democratic rule of law also extends to the processes of public service in the EU, meaning that the EU institutions must function in a way that serves all Europeans’ interests.

It follows that those who work for the EU institutions – including the European Commission and Parliament – are not meant to blindly serve their institutional leadership. Instead, they stand to serve citizens and the public interest, meaning that citizens have the right to speak up when they see that their institutions do not deliver on Article 2’s promises, or when their objections are dismissed or even sanctioned.

This Lab session explores the feasibility and potential of a ‘rule of law compass’ in the form of an EU accountability scoreboard to effectively uphold transparency and integrity within EU public service and its institutions.