The European Commission is preparing new rules for future EU member states, to prevent the emergence of a new leader like Viktor Orbán, who defies democratic values and blocks European decisions, after the Union’s expansion. According to the plan presented by the European Commissioner for Expansion, Marta Kos, countries that will join the EU are expected to enter a 15-year probation period, during which they could lose European funds or voting rights if they violate the rule of law and democratic principles, according to The Guardian.
“We no longer want a Viktor Orbán,” declared Marta Kos, for the quoted source. “We need to have faster mechanisms than Article 7 [a sanction that allows the suspension of a member state’s voting rights] in case the new members would violate the rule of law, democracy, or our values.”
According to the plans published on Tuesday by Kos, any new EU member state would undergo a 15-year probation period, during which its voting rights or access to European funds could be withdrawn if it violates fundamental democratic values or loyalty to the EU, the principle of sincere cooperation. The plans would need to be approved by the EU member states.
The “nuclear option” has never been applied.
Article 7 of the EU treaty allows member states to withdraw the voting rights of a member state that violates the rules, for a “serious and persistent” breach of democratic values. However, this so-called nuclear option has never been triggered, despite lengthy discussions about democratic backsliding in Poland and Hungary, under previous governments.
Details, HERE
