ENNHRI policy dialogue:
Safeguarding Fundamental Rights, the Rule of Law and Democracy in a Growing European Union: The Role of NHRIs
24 September 2025, Brussels
About
As the European Union (EU) navigates a new strategic phase and shifting geopolitical landscape, enlargement has returned to the forefront of the EU’s political agenda. Against this backdrop, ENNHRI convened a policy dialogue on 24 September 2025 in Brussels.
The event spotlighted the critical role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in supporting democratic resilience, the rule of law, and fundamental rights throughout the EU enlargement process.
Event details
This half-day event brought together heads of NHRIs from enlargement countries and beyond, alongside representatives from EU institutions and other key stakeholders.
Through panel discussions and interactive exchanges, participants explored the contribution of NHRIs to sustainable democratic governance within the EU accession framework. The event facilitated strategic dialogue, fostered partnerships, and helped shape ENNHRI’s future work in this area.
SpeakersÂ
Speaking at the event were heads of NHRIs from enlargement countries and beyond, alongside representatives from EU institutions and other key stakeholders. They were:
Louise HolckÂ
Welcome remarks
ENNHRI Chair; Executive Director,
Danish Institute for Human Rights
Debbie Kohner
Closing Remarks
ENNHRI Secretary General
Erinda Ballanca
People’s Advocate of Albania
Ellis Mathews
Head of Human Rights Division, European External Action Service (EEAS)
Chloé Laurens-Dinsdale
Team Leader – Judiciary, Fundamental Rights, Civil Society (Chapter 23), DG ENEST
Clare Ovey
 Director of Human Rights, Council of Europe
Dmytro Lubinets
 Member of the ENNHRI Board; Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
Ceslav Panico
People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Moldova
William Boe
Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU
Christina Meinecke
Regional Representative, UN Human Rights
Regional Office for Europe (OHCHR)
Moderators
Tena Šimonović Einwalter
Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia
Beate Rudolf
Member of the ENNHRI Board; Director, German Institute for Human RightsÂ
Programme
12.30 – 13.30
Registration and lunch
13.30 – 13.45
Opening session
This session set the scene by introducing the relevance of the topic and highlighting key trends and findings from ENNHRI’s work in the area.
Welcome Remarks: Louise Holck, ENNHRI Chair; Executive Director, Danish Institute for Human Rights
13.45 – 15.00
13.45 – 15.00Panel 1
The Role of NHRIs in Supporting Rule of Law, Democracy, and Human Rights – A Key Pillar of the Accession Process
This panel examined the contribution of NHRIs to strengthening democratic governance and human rights in candidate countries, including their role in institutional oversight, public engagement, and civic space protection. Reference were made to insights from ENNHRI’s 2025 Rule of Law report.
Speakers:
• Erinda Ballanca, People’s Advocate of Albania
• Ceslav Panico, People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) of the Republic of MoldovaÂ
• Ellis Mathews, Head of Human Rights Division, European External Action Service (EEAS)
• Clare Ovey, Director of Human Rights, Council of Europe
Moderator: Tena Šimonović Einwalter, Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia
Audience Q&A (15 min)
15.00 – 15.15
Coffee break
15.15 – 16.30
Panel 2
Moving Forward Together – Partnership and Cooperation for Next Steps
This panel explored opportunities for deeper collaboration between NHRIs, EU institutions and other actors in support of the enlargement agenda.
Speakers:
• Dmytro Lubinets, Member of the ENNHRI Board; Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
• Chloé Laurens-Dinsdale, Team Leader – Judiciary, Fundamental Rights, Civil Society (Chapter 23), DG ENESTÂ
• William Boe, Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EUÂ
• Christina Meinecke, Regional Representative, UN Human Rights Regional Office for Europe (OHCHR)
Moderator: Beate Rudolf, Member of the ENNHRI Board; Director of German Institute for Human Rights Â
Audience Q&A (15 min)
16.30 – 17.00
Closing remarks
This session highlighted key messages from the discussions and offered perspectives on concrete follow-up steps from both NHRI and EU actors.
• Debbie Kohner, ENNHRI Secretary General
18.00 – 19.00
Celebratory Reception with Speeches
Alan Miller, initial ENNHRI Chair, former Chair of Scottish NHRI
Lora Vidović, second ENNHRI Chair, former Ombudswoman of Croatia
More on NHRIs and enlargement
NHRIs are uniquely positioned to provide independent, evidence-based assessments of national developments on the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy. They help determine if EU recommendations in those areas are being meaningfully addressed, while also supporting domestic reforms. As such, they are critical in advancing EU values – including the rule of law – and as indicators of progress in meeting EU accession criteria.
ENNHRI recently released its dedicated report on the rule of law in EU enlargement countries. It features contributions from NHRIs in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Alongside a comparative overview of trends and challenges, it gives recommendations and insights on strengthening the rule of law in the EU enlargement context. These can also help support each country’s accession process.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
