Article 7 procedure

Definition

The Article 7 procedure is a mechanism in the Treaty on European Union that allows the EU to suspend certain rights from a member state if it's determined they have breached fundamental EU values.

Analogy

Imagine if your school had a rule where students could lose their recess privileges if they consistently broke school rules. That’s similar to how Article 7 works - it’s essentially time-out for countries not playing nice with EU values.

Related terms

European Union (EU): An international organization made up of European countries, designed to promote peace, stability, and economic cooperation.

Treaty on European Union (TEU): The foundational treaty establishing the EU, setting out its aims, rules for its decision-making processes, and principles on foreign policy.

Rule of Law: The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.