The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, will take part in the World Forum for Democracy on 5 November 2025 to discuss how democracies can rekindle citizen engagement. As democracies face disengagement and the erosion of core freedoms, the discussion will explore whether tools such as deliberative forums, citizens’ assemblies, and other forms of public participation can break down barriers, rebuild trust, and help revive democratic life, especially in an era where new technologies present both risks and opportunities for more direct, inclusive and informed participation.

At the end of the session, at 17:30, the Commissioner will participate in the opening of the exhibition of the tapestry El Holocausto, which represents a mural completed in 1945 by Mexican artist Manuel Rodríguez Lozano as an artistic response to the horrors of the Holocaust. The tapestry was commissioned and funded by Bill Shipsey, founder and executive director of Art for Human Rights and it was woven in 2019 by the renowned French atelier Pinton in Felletin.

First unveiled at the Maison de l’UNESCO in Paris on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, it has since been exhibited in Mexico City, Dublin, Geneva, and now Strasbourg. It serves as an ongoing reminder of past atrocities and a call to confront today’s denial and impunity. 

The presentation of the tapestry at the Council of Europe is supported by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty. Consistent with his mandate to promote human rights education, he is engaging artistic expression to reach wider audiences, especially young people, and to affirm humanity, solidarity, and resilience.

In line with his mandate to promote education in and awareness of human rights across member states, the Commissioner uses artistic expression to engage with a wide audience and especially with young people.

This tapestry aims to be a nomadic mural that educates contemporary and future audiences about the consequences of hatred and intolerance, and embodies a universal commitment to remembrance and human dignity.

An Artistic Manifesto for Human Dignity

Created by Mexican artist Manuel Rodríguez Lozano between 1944 and the end of the Second World War, El Holocausto is one of the earliest artistic protests against the Holocaust to be produced outside Europe while the Nazi regime was still denying the genocide of Europe’s Jews and Roma. 

In 2019, Bill Shipsey, founder of Art for Human Rights, commissioned this tapestry based on the mural, which was woven at the Ateliers Pinton in Felletin, France. 

• MEPs condemn repeated technical, organisational and procedural faults in EPSO’s functioning over the past two years

• Urge EPSO to review testing methods and reintroduce certified on-site facilities

• Digital technology and AI tools must always remain under human oversight

The Petitions Committee calls for urgent measures to restore integrity, transparency and credibility of the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO).

In a resolution adopted unanimously on Tuesday, MEPs from the Committee on Petitions strongly condemn the repeated technical, organisational and procedural failures that have affected EPSO selection procedures over the last two years, causing reputational damage to the EU civil service and distress to affected candidates.

Unreliable remote testing

Since the introduction of remote testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, EPSO’s selection procedures have been marked by repeated platform deficiencies and inconsistent communication to candidates on technical issues. MEPs call on the Commission to conduct an independent assessment of EPSO’s management, IT systems, outsourcing practices to external contractors, and handling of candidates’ complaints.

They urge EPSO to restore certified on-site test facilities, which have previously proven reliable, and to offer them as an alternative to remote testing. MEPs also warn that full reliance on computer-based exams risks creating new forms of discrimination linked to varying levels of digital proficiency.

Petitions’ MEPs rejects any attempt to automate procedures that affect candidates’ fundamental rights and urges EPSO to review its testing methods to ensure that all digital technology and AI tools are subject to continuous human oversight.

Candidates’ selection and feedback

Recognising the negative impact of EPSO’s mismanagement on candidates’ psychological well-being and financial situation, MEPs ask the Commission to find appropriate solutions, including retesting, for all those affected by test cancellation, IT issues or technical delays.

The resolution also criticises the current system, which requires candidates to pass generic computer-based tests before demonstrating subject-specific knowledge. MEPs warn this may exclude qualified candidates for specific posts within the EU institutions.

The increased reliance of temporary staff and contract is a direct consequence of EPSO’s inefficiency, MEPs argue, and urgent measures are needed to reverse this trend and guarantee dignified and secure working conditions within the EU.

Quote

“The Committee on Petitions decided to draft this short motion for resolution in response to petition No 0525/2025 on alleged organisational issues faced by candidates taking part in European Personnel Selection Office competitions. Specifically, the petitioner complained about recurring issues in the organisation of several competitions by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) in the last years. Having analysed the petitioner's complaints and taking into account the relevant decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as several decisions of the Ombudsman and her relevant suggestions, the Committee on Petitions put forward concrete proposals to improve the personnel selection procedure for the benefit of candidates and the EU public administration” said committee chair Bogdan Rzońca (ECR, PL).

Background

EPSO is the body responsible for selecting staff for EU institutions, bodies and agencies. In several enquiries, the European Ombudsman concluded that EPSO committed maladministration in its handling of cases concerning remote testing procedures, platform deficiencies and inconsistent communication regarding technical issues.Between 2019 and 2023, 35% fewer EPSO competitions were launched and 38% fewer were completed compared to the previous five years. During the same time frame, the number of temporary staff employed in permanent post as increased significantly - 192% increase at the Commission, 256% in the Council and 89% in Parliament.

On 4 November, the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) held a hearing on the draft report on the implementation of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter in the EU legal framework. This comes as the 25th anniversary of the EU Charter nears.

In 2019, the European Parliament adopted a resolution based on such a report drafted by AFCO. 

Now the Committee is working on a similar new report. FRA commented on the draft. It congratulated the rapporteur of the report for underlining the positive obligations linked to the Charter and for stressing the importance to give more relevance and visibility to the social right enshrined in the Charter. 

The Agency also agreed with the need for EU law and policy making to be fully in line with the EU Charter. It referred to its report ‘Better legislation: human rights impact assessment in law the making’ which will be launched at Charter anniversary conference in Brussels on 10 December. 

FRA expressed the concern that the subnational level was not referred to in the draft despite rights enshrined in the Charter also being of value in cities, municipalities, provinces and regions. 

On 5 November, FRA also participated in the exchange with the rapporteur of the draft European Parliament report and the shadow rapporteurs. They discussed the report in more detail. 

Important questions regarding the application of the Charter will be discussed on 8 and 9 December at the third annual Charter Exchange. 

FRA and the European Court of Human Rights have produced the latest in a series of joint thematic factsheets. This factsheet focuses on reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities within the context of EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

EU law and the Convention sometimes overlap. The publication clarifies where there are similar principles in different legislation and provides examples of relevant case law from the EU’s Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

Both courts use the reasonable accommodation definition from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In essence, it means making necessary and appropriate modifications to allow people with disabilities participate equally in society.

The Courts have concluded that failing to provide appropriate measures for the reasonable accommodation of people with disabilities constitutes discriminatory treatment.

Previous factsheets covered mass surveillinace, the right to be forgotten and the European Arrest Warrant.