The use of the EU infringement procedures to protect de facto the rule of law via the development of the parameter : From obligations under the Treaties to the Charter of Fundamental Rights

doi:10.4324/9780429297069-13

Chapter

The use of the EU infringement procedures to protect de facto the rule of law via the development of the parameter

ABSTRACT

This chapter describes one of the main alternative mechanisms that has been proposed is the use of European Union (EU) infringement procedures in a ‘revised’ version. It focuses on the use of an already existing mechanism, as used to protect de facto the values under Art. 2 TEU. The chapter demonstrates how since 2012 the European Commission (EC), then supported by the European Court of Justice, has actually used infringement procedures to de facto protect the fundamental values under Art. 2 TEU in Hungary and Poland via the development of the relevant parameter. It analyzes the factual and legal consequences of such a path followed by the EC and discusses the reasons for the failure of the mechanisms under Art. 7 TEU. The chapter also analyzes the legal arguments against the use of the infringement procedures under Arts 258–260 TFEU to protect the fundamental values under Art. 2 TEU.