The System of Justice: European Safeguards

Abstract

The rule of law, human rights, and democracy are the three pillars of functioning of the European states. The concept of the rule of law is very deeply rooted in the idea of the European integration since 1949 when the Council of Europe was established. The rule of law is understood as: respect for the separation of powers, duty for the executive power to respect law, observance of the rule of the compliance with the law, respect for legal certainty and the principle of res iudicata, maintenance of judicial control of the executive power, exercise of the right to court ,guarantee of a fair trial and existence of an effective appeals remedy. In many countries rule of law are in danger. That is why European safeguards plays an important role.European safeguards means different instruments in form of monitoring reports of the Council of Europe institutions , opinion of the Venice Commission, fact finding missions etc. which creates a critical illustration of the situation of the member states. The EU law creates the legal procedures based on the art. 7 of the EU Treaty as well as on the art. 258 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU which effectively can stop rule of law backsliding in the EU countries. On the side of the member states of the EU the preliminary ruling procedure can effectively stopped the violation of the EU law and principles. European safeguards are not limited to the European institutions. The UN reports on democracy, rule of law and human rights contribute fundamentally to the proper implementation of these principles. In order to respect fully the rule of law, democracy and human rights a closer cooperation and a better coherence is needed. The way how the violation of the rule of law, democracy and human rights were limited in Poland shows the importance and effectiveness of the European the European safeguards.