Analysis
Politics
Romania’s Presidential Election: European Alliances vs Authoritarian Drift
14 May 2025
Earlier this month, the European Commission decided to drop Article 7 proceedings against Poland. The decision shows the EU’s primary rule of law tool is still alive, but that problems with its design persist – both in Hungary and Poland. To defend democratic security in the next institution cycle, steps need to be taken to make Article 7 more effective.
Of all the elements in the EU’s rule of law toolbox, Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union has likely been subjected to the most name-calling and mistrust.
The procedure has been called a nuclear option, a political witch-hunt, Brussels bullying, interference in internal affairs, EU overreach, an attack on sovereignty, a case of double standards and a toothless waste of time.
So far, it has been triggered against two illiberal EU member states, Poland and Hungary, in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
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