Article 7 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty establishes that a majority in the EU Commission, EU Parliament, or among member states can initiate a special procedure when a member state is considered to be undermining fundamental EU values such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. The Article 7 procedure occurs in several steps where inquiries and recommendations are mixed with formal decisions. If it reaches the point where one wants to establish that an EU country is actually undermining the values, all other EU countries must vote in favor.
Any sanctions that can then be imposed—for example, temporarily suspending the country's voting rights in EU contexts—must also be done with unanimity. So far, Article 7 procedures have only been initiated against Poland (2017–24) and Hungary (since 2018). None of the Article 7 procedures against Poland or Hungary have reached even a vote on whether there is a clear risk that the values are being undermined.
Key unknowns remain regarding the triggers and current status of these procedures. The mechanism's design reflects the EU's commitment to upholding core principles while respecting member state sovereignty. Experts note that the high thresholds for action make Article 7 a tool of last resort, primarily serving as a political deterrent rather than a practical enforcement measure.
Ongoing debates within EU institutions continue to shape how Article 7 is applied in cases involving rule-of-law concerns.