The Rise of Modern European Dictatorships and EU's Dual Standards on Human Rights

Abstract

While many East European states, which are now members of the EU, are restoring the repressive practices of communist times, EU institutions have focused their attention only on Poland’s democratic deficit. Indeed, in July 2017, the European Commission initiated proceedings against Poland for breaches of Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, which stipulates the fundamental values of the EU. This paper criticizes EU institutions’ dual standards on the rule of law and human rights by showcasing Bulgaria’s systemic legal nihilism and breaches of EU’s fundamental values, which EU institutions seem to ignore. Moreover, it presents a case study on the three types of shameful responses EU institutions send to victims of human rights abuses to avoid performing their duties under the Treaties. In other words, by refusing to investigate and warn member states which persistently breach the Treaty on European Union, EU institutions encourage some national leaders to act with impunity and contribute to the rise of authoritarianism within the EU.