Laurent Pech 🇺🇦
@profpech.bsky.social
Professor of Law, Dean of @ucdschooloflaw.bsky.social, Senior Research Fellow at the CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest, and co-director of @goodlobbyprofs.bsky.social. Usual disclaimers.
The new European Democracy Shield in practice
November 13, 2025 at 7:28 AM
The new European Democracy Shield in practice
I have decided not to and will not therefore participate to the conference organised by the European Parliament’s AFCO Committee which is due to take place next week.
More background/explanations in my last email to the AFCO Chair reproduced below.
cc @verfassungsblog.de
More background/explanations in my last email to the AFCO Chair reproduced below.
cc @verfassungsblog.de
November 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I have decided not to and will not therefore participate to the conference organised by the European Parliament’s AFCO Committee which is due to take place next week.
More background/explanations in my last email to the AFCO Chair reproduced below.
cc @verfassungsblog.de
More background/explanations in my last email to the AFCO Chair reproduced below.
cc @verfassungsblog.de
Conference participation question: Would you agree to attend a symposium on the rule of law in an expert capacity in a situation where the conference organisers have also sought to invite fake judges and pseudo experts in the name of “dialogue”, “political balance” and/or “diversity of views”?
November 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Conference participation question: Would you agree to attend a symposium on the rule of law in an expert capacity in a situation where the conference organisers have also sought to invite fake judges and pseudo experts in the name of “dialogue”, “political balance” and/or “diversity of views”?
I contributed the sections on access to the CJEU; access to information & law-making and (non)enforcement by EU institutions. Report highlights a number of recurrent structural issues; worrying trends and in some cases, arguable violations of EU law, including selective compliance with CJEU caselaw
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I contributed the sections on access to the CJEU; access to information & law-making and (non)enforcement by EU institutions. Report highlights a number of recurrent structural issues; worrying trends and in some cases, arguable violations of EU law, including selective compliance with CJEU caselaw
Another example of the EU Comm and Council's lack of seriousness when it comes to threats/violations of the rule of law, they keep speaking of positive reform dynamic/trajectory at a time of general decline. At this stage, one must treat positive EU RoL assessments with caution if not suspicion
October 28, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Another example of the EU Comm and Council's lack of seriousness when it comes to threats/violations of the rule of law, they keep speaking of positive reform dynamic/trajectory at a time of general decline. At this stage, one must treat positive EU RoL assessments with caution if not suspicion
See eg European Parliament resolution of 28 February 2024 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 and www.politico.eu/article/oliv...
October 21, 2025 at 6:20 AM
See eg European Parliament resolution of 28 February 2024 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 and www.politico.eu/article/oliv...
You wouldn’t like my 🇫🇷 HQ
October 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
You wouldn’t like my 🇫🇷 HQ
On my way to Brussels to speak at an event dedicated to the EU's rule of law toolbox & potential need for a revamped annual RoL cycle in the form of a new European Rule of Law Semester. My presentation will focus on the evolution of the EU’s rule of law toolbox
www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/tow...
www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/tow...
October 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM
On my way to Brussels to speak at an event dedicated to the EU's rule of law toolbox & potential need for a revamped annual RoL cycle in the form of a new European Rule of Law Semester. My presentation will focus on the evolution of the EU’s rule of law toolbox
www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/tow...
www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/tow...
This latest scandal also brings to the fore Von der Leyen's lack of judgment; her repeated failure to sanction rogue behaviour and violations of Commission's code of conduct in addition to her contempt for the European Parliament
www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...
cc @alemanno.bsky.social
www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...
cc @alemanno.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 7:05 AM
This latest scandal also brings to the fore Von der Leyen's lack of judgment; her repeated failure to sanction rogue behaviour and violations of Commission's code of conduct in addition to her contempt for the European Parliament
www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...
cc @alemanno.bsky.social
www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...
cc @alemanno.bsky.social
I mean how can such a body be considered a court within the meaning of EU law...?
cc @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @rdanielkelemen.bsky.social @profkochenov.bsky.social @grabowskamoroz.bsky.social
@tjmcintyre.com
cc @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @rdanielkelemen.bsky.social @profkochenov.bsky.social @grabowskamoroz.bsky.social
@tjmcintyre.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:10 AM
I mean how can such a body be considered a court within the meaning of EU law...?
cc @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @rdanielkelemen.bsky.social @profkochenov.bsky.social @grabowskamoroz.bsky.social
@tjmcintyre.com
cc @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @rdanielkelemen.bsky.social @profkochenov.bsky.social @grabowskamoroz.bsky.social
@tjmcintyre.com
US Federal Judge William Young in American Association of University Professors et al v Rubio et al, 30 September 2025
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![And there’s the issue of masks. This Court has listened
carefully to the reasons given by Öztürk’s captors for maskingup and has heard the same reasons advanced by the defendant Todd
Lyons, Acting Director of ICE. It rejects this testimony as
disingenuous, squalid and dishonorable. ICE goes masked for a
single reason -- to terrorize Americans into quiescence. Small
wonder ICE often seems to need our respected military to guard
them as they go about implementing our immigration laws. It
should be noted that our troops do not ordinarily wear masks.
Can you imagine a masked marine? It is a matter of honor -- and
honor still matters. To us, masks are associated with cowardly
desperados and the despised Ku Klux Klan. In all our history we
have never tolerated an armed masked secret police. Carrying on
in this fashion, ICE brings indelible obloquy to this
administration and everyone who works in it. “We can not escape
history,” Lincoln righty said. “[It] will light us down in
honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.” Abraham Lincoln,
Second Annual Message to Congress (Dec. 1, 1862).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:d4tiqv4vk5z2f2hczwxcl5aq/bafkreiaoptokrb2m3auc64c3e4c5f6rhtthvtgjcnmuoq6ucfo4csnjnzy@jpeg)
October 5, 2025 at 6:58 AM
US Federal Judge William Young in American Association of University Professors et al v Rubio et al, 30 September 2025
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
"A hearing on remedy will promptly be scheduled"
October 2, 2025 at 7:04 AM
"A hearing on remedy will promptly be scheduled"
1st time I have seen an executive relying on Danish philosopher Kierkegaard to justify their lawlessness...
Here is the judge's reply 👏
Here is the judge's reply 👏
October 2, 2025 at 7:01 AM
1st time I have seen an executive relying on Danish philosopher Kierkegaard to justify their lawlessness...
Here is the judge's reply 👏
Here is the judge's reply 👏
This is how apparently...
Meanwhile, in the real world, Hungary is the only EU Member State where national authorities have methodically engaged in structural violations of academic freedom/university autonomy
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
Meanwhile, in the real world, Hungary is the only EU Member State where national authorities have methodically engaged in structural violations of academic freedom/university autonomy
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
September 18, 2025 at 12:07 PM
This is how apparently...
Meanwhile, in the real world, Hungary is the only EU Member State where national authorities have methodically engaged in structural violations of academic freedom/university autonomy
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
Meanwhile, in the real world, Hungary is the only EU Member State where national authorities have methodically engaged in structural violations of academic freedom/university autonomy
www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etud...
This reminds me of the good old (Brexit) days
September 18, 2025 at 7:19 AM
This reminds me of the good old (Brexit) days
"Academic Freedom under threat" due to the EU JM programme apparently. Meanwhile, in the real world...
academic-freedom-index.net
academic-freedom-index.net
September 18, 2025 at 7:05 AM
"Academic Freedom under threat" due to the EU JM programme apparently. Meanwhile, in the real world...
academic-freedom-index.net
academic-freedom-index.net
"The Programme channels around €25 million
per year". Apparently, this is bad & a huge amount of money. By contrast, Orban's propaganda mouthpiece is financed by Russian oil earnings and sits on endowment of more than €1.3 billion from Orban's autocratic regime
corporateeurope.org/en/2024/10/o...
per year". Apparently, this is bad & a huge amount of money. By contrast, Orban's propaganda mouthpiece is financed by Russian oil earnings and sits on endowment of more than €1.3 billion from Orban's autocratic regime
corporateeurope.org/en/2024/10/o...
September 18, 2025 at 6:48 AM
"The Programme channels around €25 million
per year". Apparently, this is bad & a huge amount of money. By contrast, Orban's propaganda mouthpiece is financed by Russian oil earnings and sits on endowment of more than €1.3 billion from Orban's autocratic regime
corporateeurope.org/en/2024/10/o...
per year". Apparently, this is bad & a huge amount of money. By contrast, Orban's propaganda mouthpiece is financed by Russian oil earnings and sits on endowment of more than €1.3 billion from Orban's autocratic regime
corporateeurope.org/en/2024/10/o...
Speaking of Orban's mafia state, its propaganda mouthpiece in BXL has decided to attack professors in past/current receipt of EU Jean Monnet funding in manner reminiscent of Brexit-era attacks. Here is their evidence of bias in my case & source to back up claim: "Laurent Pech, X x.com". Impressive
September 18, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Speaking of Orban's mafia state, its propaganda mouthpiece in BXL has decided to attack professors in past/current receipt of EU Jean Monnet funding in manner reminiscent of Brexit-era attacks. Here is their evidence of bias in my case & source to back up claim: "Laurent Pech, X x.com". Impressive
"discussion focused on general trends within the four areas related to the rule of law and no formal conclusions were issued after the debate."
Meanwhile, in the real world, Serbia has backslided to such an extent it is now autocracy with rigged elections... worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-...
Meanwhile, in the real world, Serbia has backslided to such an extent it is now autocracy with rigged elections... worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-...
September 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM
"discussion focused on general trends within the four areas related to the rule of law and no formal conclusions were issued after the debate."
Meanwhile, in the real world, Serbia has backslided to such an extent it is now autocracy with rigged elections... worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-...
Meanwhile, in the real world, Serbia has backslided to such an extent it is now autocracy with rigged elections... worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-...
Usual denial of reality & evidence-free statements on the rule of law front however: "We built a new rule of law cycle that ensures that problems are detected early and solved through engagement." Meanwhile, in the real world...
www.liberties.eu/en/stories/e...
www.liberties.eu/en/stories/e...
September 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Usual denial of reality & evidence-free statements on the rule of law front however: "We built a new rule of law cycle that ensures that problems are detected early and solved through engagement." Meanwhile, in the real world...
www.liberties.eu/en/stories/e...
www.liberties.eu/en/stories/e...
Only proper 🍺 promoted on this feed
September 4, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Only proper 🍺 promoted on this feed
You’re welcome. Would normally be of assistance but just too busy at the moment 😥
September 2, 2025 at 3:56 PM
You’re welcome. Would normally be of assistance but just too busy at the moment 😥
With you in spirit 😎
September 1, 2025 at 7:07 AM
With you in spirit 😎
The @americanbar.org “itself has struggled to find representation” in its lawsuit against the Trump regime!
August 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The @americanbar.org “itself has struggled to find representation” in its lawsuit against the Trump regime!
How could the CJEU President, acting as Judge of 2nd Ch could agree with this (absurd IMO) reasoning unless perhaps this must be understood as CJEU having decided to look other way when it comes to PiS fake (SCt) "judges" after years of EU & PL institutions failing to address this systemic RoL issue
August 1, 2025 at 1:07 PM
How could the CJEU President, acting as Judge of 2nd Ch could agree with this (absurd IMO) reasoning unless perhaps this must be understood as CJEU having decided to look other way when it comes to PiS fake (SCt) "judges" after years of EU & PL institutions failing to address this systemic RoL issue