this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2023
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There's article 7, but it's deeply flawed, because it requires unanimity from the remaining members. So if 2 countries have authoritarian governments then they can protect each other. For the last few years it has mostly been Poland protecting the Hungarian government - by far the worst backsliding in democracy in the EU. Now Fico is going to Orban's best friend.
In practice this leaves removing funds from the EU budget as a way to punish governments that are against democracy and the rule of law, but that's not been very effective and feels a bit icky.
I agree, as that money is intended to go towards structural reforms, in the end line aimed at improving living standards but we all know that a good portion of it is lost to corruption, especially in such regimes.
Witholding such funds does feel like blackmail but it's the regimes holding the hostages and I do think dealing with crooks tends to produce poor results.
At this point, we can be happy one change has happened. Let's remain vigilant.