Former Vice President of the European Commission, Vera Jourova, received today the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Łódź for her “defense of European values.” Although the Czech politician repeatedly supported financial penalties against Poland, she did not hide her emotion during the ceremony at the Polish university.
“The rule of law is a safeguard against the concentration of power and the erosion of checks and balances,” she said.
Vera Jourova, who served from 2019 to 2024 as the European Commissioner for Values and Transparency under Ursula von der Leyen, is a well-known figure in Poland. She became known for her criticism of the judicial reforms carried out by the Law and Justice (PiS) government and for advocating financial sanctions as well as linking EU funds more tightly to the observance of the rule of law.
After the change of government in Warsaw, Jourova declared in May 2024 that “Poland is no longer violating the rule of law,” even though, legally speaking, little had changed.
Since December 2024, Jourova no longer holds any position in the European Commission — yet she is now being celebrated in Poland, honored with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Łódź.
As noted by Prof. Marcin Górski, the honorary doctorate’s promoter, the reason for granting the title was Jourova’s “commitment to defending European values.”
During the ceremony, the honored official said:
“In the recent past, we lived in times when the principles of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights were perceived as something permanent — as values we could rely on, that functioned well and were resistant to any pressure. This rather naive belief also stemmed from a lack of imagination. We were unable to clearly define what pressures these principles might actually face. Today we understand this much better. We are witnessing attempts to dismantle the rule of law both within and outside the European community.”
She continued:
“The rule of law is a safeguard against the concentration of power and the erosion of checks and balances. It ensures equality before the law. We need it — as citizens and as institutions. Indeed, by using the authority of the European Commission, I sought to protect and strengthen the principle of the rule of law. The European judiciary, academia, many politicians, experts, the media, and civil society have all played a crucial role in defending it. (…) The rule of law requires daily care and constant effort from countless individuals and institutions,”
she emphasized.