Current relevance
- Shocking images from overcrowded refugee camps on the Greek island of Lesbos may well have prompted collective frowning and expressions of regret from politicians. Yet the governments of the Member States have still been unable to agree on a fair distribution of refugees arriving at the EU’s external borders. In the EU, solidarity still often stops at national borders.
- If there is a fire in France or Portugal, assistance may be provided by fire departments and technical relief organizations from other EU countries, as well as European aid funding.
- Personal rights must also be protected in the virtual world. That is why the EU regulates social media and artificial intelligence more strictly than other countries.
- The right to vote as an expatriate in another EU country? It has long been an EU citizen’s right in local elections.
Enjoying freedom and rights!
Democracy
Protect democracy and freedom of speech Working Together Against Fake News and the Erosion of Our Pluralistic Media Landscape
The UK’s Brexit campaign and developments in Hungary show that a diverse, pluralistic media landscape with independent media outlets is of paramount importance for democratic societies. If there is a lack of diversity of opinions and perspectives on political and societal matters in print, audio/video and social media, citizens lose important ways of holding those in power accountable, and populists have a field day in determining public opinion.
What can the EU do to prevent this?
- EU competition authorities can ensure that the media sector cannot cartelise and exert too much influence on public opinion. However, they rely on national competition authorities to do so.
- The EU now provides more active support to European fact-checkers and investigators. The recently established European Digital Media Observatory will help to better understand the actors, factors, tools, methods, dynamics, key objectives and impact of disinformation on societies. It is set to become the European hub in the fight against online disinformation. Further information on the EU’s activities to combat disinformation can be found on the website of the EU DISINFO Lab.
Solidarity
The EU has no authority in the area of social welfare; it is not permitted to interfere with the social welfare systems of its member states. However, there are financing instruments through which the community of nations carries out solidarity-based activities:
- European Social Fund: supports programmes for unemployed youth and long-term unemployed people
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: improving the quality of life for people in rural areas
- Mutual assistance for EU citizens worldwide: repatriation of almost 600,000 Europeans during the COVID-19 crisis
- European Regional Development Fund: the EU’s main instrument for supporting disadvantaged regions through wealthier countries
- European Union Solidarity Fund: provides assistance in the event of natural disasters (for example, €31 million for Bavaria following severe flooding in 2016)
- Global development cooperation (for example, to construct schools or wells)
Under Article 80 TFEU, Union policy relating to border controls, asylum and immigration is governed by “the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility […] between Member States”. We know from the ongoing debate on the distribution of refugees among Member States how difficult they find it to embrace this form of solidarity. This has serious consequences, as can be seen in the case of Greece: the country is overwhelmed trying to accommodate all refugees in camps and shelters. Although EU funds are available to set up these camps, financial support is not enough. Following the fire in the Moria refugee camp, only a few countries were willing to take in refugees. This is arguably the most striking example of the vast gulf between aspiration and reality when it comes to solidarity within Europe
Rule of law
- In 2018, the European Parliament adopted a resolution initiating, for the first time, an Article 7 TEU procedure against Hungary for violating EU values.
- Conditionality mechanism: Since 2020, the EU has been able to suspend the disbursement of funds to Member States who breach the EU’s values and rule of law principles. This occurred in 2017 against Poland (due to breaches of judicial independence, discontinued in 2024) and in 2018 against Hungary (judicial independence, corruption and restrictions on media freedom).
- EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
- Municipal voting rights for all EU citizens at their place of residence
- Right to an Interpreter in Criminal Proceedings
- Rule of law reports on all EU Member States
Non-discrimination and tolerance
- Directive on gender equality outside the workplace: for example, no higher insurance premiums for women.
- Since the European Communities were founded in 1957: equal pay for men and women for work of equal value.
- Directive on protection against sexual harassment in the workplace: it is easier to press charges because the perpetrator must prove their innocence rather than the victim having to prove the assault.
- Directive on anti-racism: racism and xenophobia are criminal offences in all EU Member States
- Framework directive on equal treatment: no discrimination on grounds of age, religion, belief or sexual orientation in employment and occupation.
Learning and Play Area
Learning with tips, quizzes and interactive elements.
