Publication by the Prof. Dr. Loïc Levoyer in the Revue de droit de l'Union européenne 2026/02 :"Various instruments for protecting the financial interests of the Euroepan Union in the service of the rule of law"

Violations of the principles of the rule of law by Member States are likely to compromise financial legality and the principle of sound financial management of the European budget. In the face of violations of fundamental rights, the European Commission has a range of instruments at its disposal to protect the EU budget. Some of these financial instruments are specifically dedicated to protecting the rule of law in the European Union. They were designed with this in mind in a political context where preserving democracy in the European Union was not yet seen as a priority. In addition to these specific instruments, others are also used for this purpose. They reflect the European Union institutions’ concern to preserve fundamental rights in the face of illiberal tendencies and breaches of the rule of law.