European Commision
The European Union (EU) believes that restrictive Covid-19 measures introduced to curb the spread of the virus must not threaten fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to peaceful protests, a spokesperson for the European Commission (EC), Ana Pisonero, said on July 8.
In a written comment for N1, Pisonero said that "protecting people’s lives and health should be the first priority." "It is for the government to determine the necessary measures to address Covid-19 risks, based on scientific and epidemiological data, she said, warning that those measures must not disproportionately affect fundamental rights and freedoms.
The EC spokesperson suggested that the restrictive measures "must be limited to what is strictly necessary." "This also applies to the right to peaceful protests, a fundamental right in a democratic society," Pisonero said, adding that public order had to be guaranteed in the process as well.
"The inviolability of democratic institutions must be respected and preserved at all times,” Pisonero wrote in her comment on Belgrade's protests.
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