http://dx.doi.org/10.17176/20161024-111216 https://verfassungsblog.de/can-poland-be-sanctioned-by-the-eu-not-unless-hungary-is-sanctioned-too/ Can Poland be Sanctioned by the EU? Not Unless Hungary is Sanctioned Too Scheppele, Kim Lane eng 2016-10-24 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 Art. 7 TEU EU rule of law framework Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Hungary has announced to block any Article 7 sanctions that the EU might propose against Poland. Why should Poland back down when nothing will come of standing up to the EU? Given Polish intransigence, the Commission may be tempted to stall for time or to retreat, which would be disastrous for the rule of law in the European Union. But the power to levy Article 7 sanctions can be restored. The Commission should do now what it should have done long ago. It should begin by triggering Article 7 (1) not only against Poland, but against Hungary as well.