Annika Ström Melin: Let new corrupt and authoritarian leaders not destroy the EU

The European Commission is pushing for a new framework to prepare the EU for growth, which involves several proposed changes to the existing structure. Commissioner Marta Kos has called for more and faster action if new member states violate principles of the rule of law, democracy, and EU values. Proposals include removing the veto right of EU countries in areas like sanctions, energy taxes, and tax evasion, reducing the size of the Commission, and promoting voluntary integration through "deepened cooperation." The Commission also suggests special rules for new member states, such as limiting agricultural support concerning sensitive products from certain nations. A key proposal is to introduce time-limited protective measures for new members who violate democratic values or loyal cooperation principles, potentially excluding them from certain EU cooperation and voting rights, subject to qualified majority approval.

The narrative juxtaposes the need to safeguard EU principles against the reality of internal political dynamics that enable authoritarian drift. The core tension lies between the institutional desire for cohesion and the practical mechanism for enforcing democratic and legal standards across an increasingly diverse union. The focus on Viktor Orbán as a potential "Trojan horse" in new member states, like through Marine Le Pen's politics, highlights the structural vulnerability where integration mechanisms can be co-opted by destabilizing actors rather than solely being subject to external checks. The analysis reveals that existing rules, relying on unanimity for critical actions, proved insufficient when faced with internal challenges to the rule of law concerning Hungary and Poland, suggesting that procedural safeguards are inadequate against systemic divergence. The push for new, stringent protective measures targets the locus of change—new entrants—suggesting a shift from managing existing state behavior to preemptively policing membership criteria. This raises questions about where true sovereignty resides within the EU structure: in the treaty text or in the political will to enforce those principles uniformly when internal actors resist collective action.