Liberal Mayors meet for their 7th Summit to discuss rule of law

More than 20 mayors from across Europe gathered on 26 November to discuss the rule of law and LGBTIQ rights with the European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, Michal Šimečka MEP of Renew Europe, and Dirk Wedel, State Secretary, Ministry of Justice of North-Rhine Westphalia.

Commission Vice-President Jourová kicked off the 7th Liberal Mayors Summit with a passionate defence of the rule of law in the European Union:

“Democracy and the Rule of Law are core values that define us as Europeans – the EU is based on the respect of the Rule of Law. We don’t have a common army or language, but we are together because we share its principles and foundations. That is why we have to protect and defend these every day, to guarantee our institutions in place, to uphold our checks and balances.”

Michal Šimečka, MEP of the Renew Europe Group, stressed that Mayors and regional leaders have an opportunity against authoritarianism: making citizens aware that there is another type of administration is key to fight authoritarianism, and added:

“The EU is not a federal state and it absolutely relies on the trust on Member States and cooperation between these. This trust is based on the assumption that all these countries are democratic and that they respect the Rule of Law. When this trust breaks down, everything starts to fall apart.”

Discussing LGBTI+ rights in Poland, President of the Renew Europe Group in the European Committee of the Regions (Renew Europe CoR) François Decoster said:

“We are reaching out to Polish Mayors to initiate a dialogue and promote diversity as a force for good, working to reinforce EU values.”

Milosz Hodun (Noweczesna, Poland) and Vice-President of the European Liberal Forum, added:

“LGBT-free zones are against basic human rights. It’s important that Liberal Mayors will try to reach their peers in Poland offering a dialogue about fundamental European values.”

View the 5 key takeaways from the Summit here or below