CRoLEV Impact assessment and recommendations to policy makers – Press release

The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for the Rule of Law and European Values (CRoLEV) at UCLan Cyprus, is pleased to present the CRoLEV Impact assessment and recommendations to policy makers available on the CRoLEV website.

More specifically, the Impact Assessment includes the analysis of all data collected by the CRoLEV team, with the aim of measuring aspects of the rule of law, democracy and European values ​​in Cyprus and beyond. Initially, the concept and definition of the principle of the ‘rule of law’ and democracy were given based on a literature review, mapping of available resources, tools and approaches, research discussions, measurement surveys and focus groups, through which four general pillars were identified, with their own sub-pillars and measurement indicators.

The four pillars in question are: Citizen Participation (Pillar 1), Democratic Governance (Pillar 2), Functionality of Justice (Pillar 3), Democratic Values ​​(Pillar 4). The pillars we have identified seek to establish the links between the rule of law, democracy and other European values, mainly linked to democratic governance. The selection reflects pan-European concerns about the rule of law and democratic backsliding in different countries. In relation to the conduct of the research, the CRoLEV team used a mixed methods approach with, in the initial and subsequent empirical stages of the research, focus groups and measurement surveys aiming to measure around 30 distinct indicators. The indicators were identified through a combination of literature reviews and initial project findings.

Survey and focus groups findings are analysed in the Impact Assessment, which is also offering a needs analysis of the threats to the rule of law and why these are significant. It is also identifying and answering the questions in relation to why the EU should (still) act and what should be achieved by these actions, as well as what the various and preferred options to achieve these objectives are. The Impact Assessment works on better regulation for the protection of the triangular relation between human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Europe.

The report also provides valuable and detailed recommendations towards more effective protection of the rule of law and European values through several mechanisms. The recommendations summarised in the report are those of relevance to CRoLEV Pillars and to the empirical research conducted.

The CRoLEV Impact assessment and recommendations to policy makers is available here.