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Event

1st March 2022

European Policy on the Rule of Law: A Glimpse Behind the Scenes

Book Launch

Renaissance Hotel
19 Rue du Parnasse
Brussels

DIRECTIONS

The debate around the Conference on Future of Europe is coming to a close – with the principle of subsidiarity becoming a key point of contention. The political debate in Brussels is now being driven by two opposing sides, those who would like to see the European Union become an altogether more centralised entity, and those who wish to reserve power for the Member States.

In particular, the issue of subsidiarity in the judicial system has become a challenging topic. In his new book, lawyer Ákos Bence Gát, has explored how European policy is impacting the rule of law. ‘European Policy and the Rule of Law’ explores how the topic has become increasingly politicised, and controversial. New Direction and the Foundation for a Civic Hungary are pleased to present this new book at a special event in Brussels on the 1st of March. 

"The book helps a lot in understanding the background regarding the struggles on the European scene." – Prof. Dr. László TRÓCSÁNYI, MEP, former minister of justice.

 

Book author: Ákos Bence GÁT studied at Sciences Po Paris, the ENA, the University of Strasbourg, and the Panthéon-Sorbonne University where he obtained diplomas in law, political science and public administration. He was granted scholarship to study at Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona. In 2011, he founded Duel Amical (vitapolitika.hu), an online magazine dedicated for public debates. He worked in the Ministry of Justice of Hungary, as well as, at Századvég Foundation and in the Cabinet of the President of the European Parliament. He is researcher at the Europe Strategy Institute of the Hungarian University of Public Service and Communication Director of Danube Institute, he holds lectures at the University of Szeged. In 2018 he translated into Hungarian Bertrand MATHIEU’s ‘Le droit contre la démocratie?’, in 2019 he published his own book on the European Union’s policy on the rule of law. In December 2021, his book ‘European Policy on the Rule of Law - A Glimpse Behind the Scenes’ was published in English.

Agenda

17:45 – 18:00

Arrival of guests, registration and CST-check, refreshments

18:00 – 18:15

Welcoming remarks

  • Dániel HOROGSZEGI SZILÁGYI-LANDECK, Head of Brussels Office, Foundation for a Civic Hungary
  • Witold de CHEVILLY, Executive Director, New Direction
  • Kinga GÁL, MEP, Vice President of Fidesz

18:15 – 19:30

Panel discussion

Law and justice – when law is used or distorted for unjust ends

  • Ákos Bence GÁT, author, lawyer
  • László TRÓCSÁNYI, MEP, former minister of justice
  • Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO, MEP, Co-chair of the ECR group, former minister of education
  • Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA, MEP, former state attorney
  • Ágnes Zsófia MAGYAR, Deputy-Head of Brussels Office, Foundation for a Civic Hungary (moderator)

19:30 – 19:40

Closing remarks

19:40

Cocktail reception

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