What Europeans hold dear
A survey finds rule of law so popular in the European Union that it ranks higher than climate action 鈥� and justifies sanctions on errant EU states like Hungary.
People take part in a protest against a bill to crack down on foreign-funded organisations, in Budapest, Hungary, May 18.
Reuters
A newly released survey of public opinion across the European Union finds an amazing sentiment: Most people put democratic rule of law above many other EU priorities, such as climate protection or the sharing of financial resources.
鈥淐itizens take the fundamental norms of the EU seriously and are also willing to engage in costly actions to sustain these principles,鈥� wrote three scholars who commissioned the poll.
A second finding was just as stark: Even in member states where norms of democracy are backsliding, 鈥淪ignificant portions of the population might welcome EU sanctions, even at the cost of losing EU funds for their country.鈥�
The poll was timely. On May 27, EU officials again ratcheted up pressure on Hungary for its 鈥渞ule of law聽breaches.鈥� The union is already withholding 鈧�18 billion ($20.4 billion) in funds from the country, which is facing budgetary and economic woes. And as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n continues to support measures restricting basic freedoms and judicial independence, more European leaders are moving toward what is called the 鈥渘uclear option,鈥� or ending Hungary鈥檚 voting rights in the bloc. At least 19 out of 25 other member states support such a move, reported Politico.
As the survey suggests, the wind is in the EU鈥檚 sails if it takes such a drastic step. On May 22, more than two dozen members of the聽European聽Parliament urged the bloc鈥檚 leaders to freeze all of Hungary鈥檚 EU funds. In July, the EU will begin to discuss its next seven-year budget and could tighten up conditions for that money on countries that violate its core values.
鈥淗ungary鈥檚聽European聽isolation and drift towards political pariah status have accelerated,鈥� concluded the Hungarian opposition daily newspaper Nepszava.
Meanwhile, inside the country, Mr. Orb谩n now faces a serious challenge in next year鈥檚 elections from a conservative 鈥� and more EU-friendly 鈥� opposition leader, P茅ter Magyar. On May 18, tens of thousands of Hungarians marched in a protest against the government鈥檚 erosion of civil liberties.
The survey made one more point: Citizens who identify with Europe perceive the EU as a community bound by shared values. Threats to that collective identity can fuel support for sanctions to protect those values. And among those values, rule of law rules the roost.