CHR Marcin Wiącek met with FRA Director Sirpa Rautio
Date:
On September 10, 2024, Commissioner for Human Rights Marcin Wiącek met with Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Sirpa Rautio, who is on a visit to Poland.
The meeting, which was held at the CHR Office, was also attended by the Head of Sector of Director's Office FRA, Adrianna Bochenek, as well as, from the CHR's side, the Chief Coordinator for Strategic Cooperation, Maciej Grześkowiak, and the Deputy Director of the Executive Operations and International Cooperation Department, Maciej Kruk.
The main topic of the conversation was current problems related to respect for fundamental rights in Poland. The participants discussed activities related to restoring the rule of law and constitutional order in Poland - both those undertaken and those projected.
The subject of the situation in the public media was also raised, particularly in light of the Constitutional Tribunal's December 13, 2016 ruling. The issue was placed in the context of EU media regulation, while emphasizing the obligation under Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to ensure media pluralism.
They also discussed problems arising from the development of modern technologies and the impact of artificial intelligence tools on the protection of human rights. The FRA Director presented the conclusions of the research on cybercrime and hate speech on the Internet. Commissioner Wiącek presented what challenges his office faces in this area. He also pointed out the shortcomings of Polish regulations relating to the right to privacy and stressed the need to bring them in line with constitutional, European and international standards. In this regard, he referred to the case law of the ECHR, in particular Pietrzak v. Poland and Bychawska-Siniarska and Others v. Poland (nos. 72038/17 and 25237/18).
The interlocutors also addressed issues related to the situation of foreigners staying on or trying to enter Polish territory, in particular war refugees from Ukraine and the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. Commissioner Wiącek drew attention to the inadequate legal bases in Polish law in this regard and presented the conclusions of visits of OCHR representatives to border areas.
The FRA Director also presented the conclusions of the FRA's research and projects in support of national human rights institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the rule of law, and in the prevention of anti-Semitism.
