This thesis discusses the relationship between democratic backsliding and friendship. Therefore, this thesis will focus on the Article 7-procedure, which the European Union can start when a member...Show moreThis thesis discusses the relationship between democratic backsliding and friendship. Therefore, this thesis will focus on the Article 7-procedure, which the European Union can start when a member state persistently violates the rule of law. In 2018, the European Parliament started an Article 7-procedure against Hungary because, according to the European Parliament, Hungary violates the rule of law. A problematic aspect of the Article 7-procedure is that a possible sanction against a member state for violation of the rule of law can only be imposed based on unanimity within the European Council. In addition, Poland and Hungary have indicated that they are friends of each other and therefore would support each other in the Article 7-procedure. For this reason, this thesis will study whether friendship can influence the democratic backsliding of Eastern European members of the European Union. This thesis uses a case study where the Article 7-procedure against Hungary will be studied. Desk research is used to determine whether certain countries are friends of Hungary. These studies have been researched in response to their voting behaviour in the European Parliament on the proposal to start the Article 7-procedure against Hungary. The results of the case study indicate that Bulgaria and Poland are friends with the state of Hungary. The case study shows that these friendships could not prevent the Article 7-procedure from being started, although democratic backsliding is not condition to be friends when both states are becoming less democratic. This required more ‘no’ votes. However, the aspect of friendship can play a role in a later step in the process of the Article 7-procedure. If the European Council does not unanimously agree, the Article 7-procedure will fail. Furthermore, Poland and Hungary have already indicated several times that both countries will support each other against sanctions from the EU. It is therefore unlikely that the European Council will agree unanimously about the Article 7-procedure, because Poland will not assent. It can therefore be concluded that friendship does play a role in the democratic backsliding of Eastern European member states of the EU. As a result, a country will not experience any consequences if a country becomes less democratic and when the country takes measures that go against the democratic values of the EU.Show less
