Editorial Comments: Safeguarding EU values in the Member States – Is something finally happening?

Summary:
One of the fundamental premises of the European Union's practical functioning is that all of the Member States share certain values. The protection and advancement of these values is enshrined in numerous articles in the treaties. Sharing these values is important because it is what allows the EU to assume that there is mutual trust and respect between Member States.
However, until recently no explicit way to enforce this had been put forward. It has been suggested that the European Commission could have the power to send warnings to Member States when it perceives a clear "threat to the Rule of Law" within that State. This article considers positive aspects and unaddressed issues with regards to this proposal.