Talking Europe sat down with a man in the EU Commission whose work goes to the heart of what the EU sees as its core values. Michael McGrath is the Commissioner responsible for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection. His work is concerned not only with violations of the rule of law in EU member states, but also with the entire online dimension of democracy, including disinformation and foreign interference. In fact, he now leads the new European Center for Democratic Resilience.
We start a war in the Middle East and ask McGrath if he believes that US-Israeli attacks on Iran are outside international law, as France and Spain have said?
“Well, ultimately, the international courts will make the final decision on that legal question,” he replies. “But I think we have to remember here the sheer brutality of the Iranian regime and the brutality it has inflicted on its own people over the decades, including in recent weeks and recent months.”
“All parties to this conflict have an obligation to act in a responsible manner; to minimize damage and civilian casualties,” McGrath continues. “It’s horrible to see innocent lives lost. And it should be avoided at all costs.”
On the Iranian political dimension, McGrath says, “The outcome we want to see here as the European Union is a governance system in Iran that meets the needs of the Iranian people, and provides them with good service and a new form of government that is well supported. Ideally, we want to see a democratic government. Time.”
Responding to the apparent split between Spain and France on one side and Germany on the other, the US and Israel, McGrath pointed out that EU treaties make it clear that common foreign and security policy is “decided on the basis of unanimity at European Council level”. We must be mandated to represent and reflect that opinion, on any important international issue, as the reality we face is difficult to achieve.
‘The rule of law is not an optional extra’
Turning to the rule-of-law issues in Hungary and Slovakia, McGrath reminds us that “the rule of law within the European Union is not an optional extra. It is a binding obligation of EU membership.” In Hungary, “several important judgments from the Court of Justice are expected in the near future. And we have an Article 7 procedure triggered by the European Parliament in 2018 – but the EU Council remains in ownership of that particular process”.
When it comes to Slovakia, McGrath says, “The Commission has received responses from the Slovak authorities regarding our two letters of formal notice, which is the beginning of the infringement process. We are considering those replies that we have received. And of course, we really need to see action and positive movement. Issues”.
With elections coming up in Hungary and Denmark, we turn to the question of online disinformation and election interference.
“I am very pleased that the new European Center for Resilience of Democracy is now up and running and has the full support of the Member States of the European Union,” McGrath said. “And its central purpose is really to act as a hub, as a coordination point, to bring together all the good work that is going on in the (EU) institutions and at the level of the member states. We know that there is foreign interference in European elections. With the power of technology and the extraordinary power of artificial intelligence, our ability to spread disinformation is currently challenged.”
Indeed, aren’t existing EU tools falling behind the very rapid advances in AI and deepfakes?
“We need guardrails and regulatory parameters, and particularly on AI”, McGrath replies. “And we need to keep this under review. If we want to do more, we need to be prepared to make such proposals. But we have a strong toolbox, including support for free and independent media, support for civil society and support for independent justice systems. These are essential foundations of a free, open and democratic society, and we need to continue to invest in them.”
The show is hosted by Oihana Almandoz, Alain Bottin, Isabelle Romero, Perrin Desplats and Paul Guianvarc.
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