Defending the Rule of Law in the European Union: the role of the infringement procedure

Abstract

In the context of Rule of Law backsliding, EU institutions have been taking action to defend this fundamental common value against the challenges it is facing, especially in certain Member States. The Court of Justice of the EU holds an ever-growing central role in this action, orienting, through its case-law, the infringement procedure to address the immediate threats posed by illiberal governments and governmental practices seeking to subvert the Rule of Law in a systemic and effective way.