The European Union as a community of values: the crisis of democracy and the rule of law, once again

The liberal democracies of virtually the entire Western world are suffering a serious process of internal erosion and, in some cases, a real authoritarian drift. This democratic wear des not only affect the States. The European Union is also the preferred target of direct attacks by populist and anti-European movements. In fact, in these moments, some essential values of the integration process, such as democracy and rule of law, are being put into question in some Member States. Given that the Union is a "community of values" (Wertegemeinschaft) and that the values of Article 2 TEU possess a normative value and are actionable, the Commission have brought several infringement proceedings before the ECJagainst Poland and Hungary, for the violation of those same values. Likewise, for the first time since its institution in the constitutive treaties, the mechanism of Article 7(1) TEU has been activated against Poland. We are, therefore, in uncharted territory, whose final outcome is uncertain and could represent a serious threat against the European integration process itself.