
Prof. Anna Pacześniak nominated
Prof. Anna Pacześniak of the Institute of European Studies at the University of Wrocław has been nominated – as one of six people in the whole of the European Union – to the Committee of Independent Eminent Persons. This was announced on behalf of the Conference of Presidents by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
Committee members are elected on the basis of their personal and professional qualifications for a five-year term by the European Parliament (two people) and the European Commission and the Council of the European Union (the other four people).
What do these people do? They issue opinions on any possible clear and serious breach by a European political party or European political foundation of the values on which the Union is founded. In their opinions, they take full account of the fundamental right to freedom of association and the need to ensure pluralism of political parties in Europe.
And all this on the basis of EP and Council Regulation No. 1141/2014 on the status and funding of European political parties and European political foundations.
Did this appointment come as a surprise to our researcher? – The appointment itself did not come as a 100 per cent surprise to me, as in these types of cases the candidates are probed in advance whether they would take up the task if appointed by the European Parliament. A pleasant surprise came in early December when I was asked about it. The very name of the body is extremely lofty, so this kind of distinction tickles the ego, there is no denying it – says the researcher.
And what does the nomination mean practically? – Our job is to keep an eye on Euro-parties and their associated political foundations to see whether their actions run counter to the values of the European Union, i.e. equality, the rule of law, democracy, freedom, human rights. If this were the case, we could trigger a control procedure that could end in the withdrawal of the status of the Euro-party or foundation and thus the withdrawal of EU funding. This has happened in the past with federations of extreme and nationalist parties – explains prof. Pacześniak.
Congratulations!
Complied by Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz
Date of publication: 31.01.2025
Added by: M.J.