Despite opposition from 7 Member States, the Union has a new tool to enforce its values. The weakness of Article 7 TEU is compensated by a new mechanism to ensure respect for the values of the Union.

A first for Europe. The 27 EU member states voted in favour of a German compromise on the rule of law. The text proposed by Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, provides for the reduction or suspension of payments of funds in cases where violations by a member state of the principles of the rule of law (independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press…) “affect in a sufficiently direct manner the sound financial management of the EU budget or the protection of the Union’s financial interests”.