These are turbulent times for the rule of law in Europe. The rule of law in Hungary and Poland has been under pressure for some time due to “constitutional capture”, but there are also worrying signals from other Member States. In Spain, for example, the appointment process of judges is becoming increasingly politicized and in Greece and Malta the safety of journalists is a problem (see annual rule of law reports from the European Commission and NGOs). The Dutch democratic rule of law is also not inviolable. In recent years, citizens have not always been well protected against government measures. Various new political plans are in conflict with existing legal standards (see, among other things, our recent “Commissie Meijers commentaar in reactie op het Hoofdlijnenakkoord”). In order to prevent further backsliding of the rule of law in the EU, it is necessary to mobilize future legal practitioners for the protection of the rule of law. The Meijers Committee is therefore initiating the Young Meijers Committee:

• Each year, the Meijers Committee selects 12 young, motivated lawyers (i.e. students in the final phase of their bachelor’s, in their master’s, recent graduates, PhDs).
• These young lawyers will participate in and contribute to the subcommittee meetings and plenary meetings of the Meijers Committee, so that they are encouraged to commit themselves to the protection of the European rule of law.
• The Meijers Committee offers them workshops in which, under the guidance of experts, they will delve into various rule of law themes. It will provide the young lawyers with a toolbox with which they can debunk rule of law myths and in this way contribute to the protection of the rule of law.