Cc: Members of the European Parliament<\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Mr. Juncker,<\/p>\n Following the presentation of your College of Commissioners and the corresponding\u00a0attribution of portfolios, you announced the nomination of Mr. Tibor Navracsics as\u00a0Commissioner for Education, Youth, Culture and Citizenship. The signatories of this\u00a0open letter, representing civil society networks and organisations that delivered the\u00a0European Year of Citizens in 2013 and 2014, consider that this appointment is\u00a0completely unacceptable.<\/p>\n Mr. Navracsics has been a key proponent of policies implemented by the Hungarian\u00a0governments led by Mr. Orban that acted against the values of the European treaties and\u00a0project and were criticised by the European Commission for decisions such as the\u00a0constitutional reform process of 2013 and the reforms affecting media freedom in 2011.\u00a0This is why, on the basis of the core democratic principles of the EU, we feel that his\u00a0appointment would put under threat the relations between the European Commission\u00a0and civil society organisations.<\/p>\n At a time when the Hungarian government is seeking to intimidate associations that do\u00a0not share its views by sending the police to their premises, your proposed appointment\u00a0is a surprising and worrying message that goes against the values at the heart of the\u00a0European project and the aspirations expressed in the new European Commission work\u00a0plan that you presented to the European Parliament in June.<\/p>\n For us, the Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship sectors must above all embrace the\u00a0values of the European project promoting an open and inclusive society for everyone.\u00a0After placing the economy before the social in this period of crisis, the nomination of Mr\u00a0Navracsics can only be understood as turning your back on the implementation of these\u00a0values and sends citizens a dispiriting signal for the future of Europe. You will\u00a0understand, Mr. President, that we have no choice but to call on the European\u00a0Parliament to reject your proposed appointment of Mr. Navracsics to this role.<\/p>\n Convinced that the strict application of Article 11 of the European Treaty would\u00a0contribute to the needed reestablishment of confidence that citizens have in the\u00a0European Institutions we would also like to share another serious concern. In\u00a0accordance with the recommendations that the European Year of Citizens Alliance –\u00a0EYCA1 – has made, we ask that citizenship and civil dialogue is included as a\u00a0responsibility of a Vice President of the European Commission.<\/p>\n This could logically fall under the portfolio of the Vice-President in charge of \u201cBetter\u00a0Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of\u00a0Fundamental Rights\u201d. In this way, civil dialogue could be given the same status as social\u00a0dialogue and become a crucial tool to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the\u00a0European Union.<\/p>\n With concern for the legitimacy and effectiveness of the dialogue between the European institutions and civil society in all its forms of organisation, and our commitment to sustain the proclaimed values of the European project, please accept, Mr. President, our\u00a0most respectful greetings.<\/p>\n
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