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Defending EU Values in Poland and Hungary
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Defending EU Values in Poland and Hungary

Heather Grabbe and Stefan Lehne
Carnegie Europe, 2017
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8

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Hungary and Poland’s populist, nationalist governments are turning their backs on democratic values and rule of law. Thus far, the European Union has failed to forcefully counter the two member states’ violation of core EU principles. But, as Heather Grabbe and Stefan Lehne of Carnegie Europe argue, a continued slide into authoritarianism does not only put the political futures of these two European nations at risk. By acquiescing to Poland and Hungary’s disregard of EU laws and values, the EU undermines its own legal foundations – and, ultimately, the European Union’s raison d’etre. 

Take-Aways

  • The EU has shown hesitancy in speaking out against Hungary and Poland’s violations of democratic norms.
  • The EU treaty empowers the European Council to declare a member in breach of EU values, and to impose sanctions, but only if all member states agree on it unanimously. 
  • The EU’s reluctance to try to impose sanctions on Poland and Hungary stems in part from deference to members’ self-governance rights, but also from fear of backlash. 

About the Authors

Heather Grabbe is the director of the Open Society European Policy Institute. Stefan Lehne is a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe in Brussels.

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