http://dx.doi.org/10.59704/b7aa4c52e7a4fdf3 https://verfassungsblog.de/text-is-not-enough/ Text Is Not Enough - Effective and Systemic Compliance in EU Rule-of-Law Governance Drinóczi, Tímea eng 2026-02-19 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 EU EU Hungary Rule of Law Ungarn systemic assessment EU Ungarn Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 Advocate General Ćapeta’s Opinion in Case C-225/24, of 12 February 2026, clarifies that, in contexts of systemic rule-of-law deterioration, compliance cannot be measured solely by legislative text, while also explaining the constraints of discretionary power in EU fund cases. Rule-of-law compliance must be assessed through effective implementation and attention to the broader constitutional environment. The Opinion articulates an evaluative logic for EU rule-of-law governance that is particularly significant in backsliding settings and foreshadows the standards required for constitutional reconstruction after illiberal rule.