The first chapter explained how the European integration process has become associated with several political and constitutional values, and how this process of constitutionalisation transformed an economic project into a ‘Union of Values’.

The second chapter then reflected on the content and meaning of these values at the EU level. Democracy, the rule of law and human rights are now affirmed in the Treaties and in the Charter, promoted in the enlargement and external policies of the Union, and further specified in EU secondary law. Yet, precise definitions and standards against which national policies can be assessed are not always precise.

The third chapter explained the legal framework and the normative reasons for values oversight at the EU level, arguing that EU institutions clearly have a mandate to intervene in case of national threats to common values, but the precise features of that mandate are not always clear and that the role of the EU is still contested. The chapter also identified some possible limits to EU intervention and concluded inter alia that the EU should not level out differences in national constitutional systems.

The fourth chapter of the book presented the main mechanisms EU institutions can use to protect the common values in the Member States: in the first place, Article 7 TEU, which should not be considered a nuclear option; but also infringement procedures and preliminary references, as well as softer monitoring instruments including the Commission Rule of Law Framework.

The fifth chapter then assessed how these mechanisms have been used in concrete instances in which EU values were under threat in the Member States. The chapter argued that the first reactions to the Hungarian and Polish crises were disappointing and ineffective; but more recent steps, namely the activation in both countries of Article 7(1) TEU and the opening of several infringement actions related to the independence of the judiciary or based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights, are more promising steps that can bring better results. Furthermore, the chapter looked at the EU’s reaction to other, less severe threats to EU values and concluded that, despite some successful proactive approaches, the EU still lacks a comprehensive strategy to monitor national situations and intervene when necessary.

The sixth and final chapter of the book discussed, in the opening sections, current institutional and academic proposals to endow the EU with new mechanisms and procedures to protect EU values. It then contained some recommendations on how to improve the EU’s toolkit, divided in two sections. First, the book argued that the EU should make better use of existing mechanisms, in particular exploiting the possibilities that Article 7, the Rule of Law Framework and infringement actions create.

Furthermore, it should frame its intervention not only in terms of protecting the rule of law, but also using democratic and human rights arguments. Second, in the medium term, the EU should strive to better clarify democratic and rule of law standards, possibly by drafting ‘Guidelines’ also through comparative research; put in place a new monitoring framework, entrusted to the FRA; and reflect on the introduction of conditionality mechanisms and future reforms of the Article 7 TEU system.