Securing values in European Union Law

Abstract

Problem Setting. The growing importance of the European Union’s values as the foundation of its legal order is accompanied by increasing challenges related to their interpretation and enforcement in Member States. Although these values are clearly enshrined in Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union, their practical implementation raises significant legal and political issues. In particular, tensions between national sovereignty and the obligation to comply with common values, as well as inconsistencies in the application of enforcement mechanisms, demonstrate the complexity of ensuring the unity and effectiveness of the EU legal system. Analysis of recent researches and publications. The issue of EU values has been widely examined in legal and philosophical scholarship. Foundational contributions were made by Jürgen Habermas and Joseph Weiler, who conceptualize the EU as a value-based community grounded in democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Modern studies also address the mechanisms for safeguarding these values, including the works of scholars analyzing responsibility in EU law and practical challenges related to their enforcement, particularly in the context of developments in Poland and Hungary. Purpose of the Study. The purpose of the article is to analyze the nature of the European Union’s values, their legal significance, their interrelation with the objectives of the EU, as well as the mechanisms for ensuring their observance and their effectiveness in the context of contemporary challenges. Article’s main body. The article examines the concept of EU values as a complex legal and philosophical category forming the basis of the Union’s legal order. It analyzes the provisions of Articles 2 and 3 TEU, revealing the interconnection between values and objectives of the EU. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms for ensuring these values, including the procedure under Article 7 TEU, the role of the European Commission, judicial control by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and preventive monitoring tools. The study also considers the concepts of retrospective and prospective responsibility. A separate focus is placed on recent challenges in Poland and Hungary, including judicial reforms and the invocation of constitutional identity, and their impact on the effectiveness of EU mechanisms. Conclusions and prospects for development. The research demonstrates that EU values constitute a dynamic and binding foundation of the Union’s legal system rather than merely declarative principles. At the same time, the existing mechanisms for their protection reveal certain limitations in practice. The lack of a clear balance between respect for national sovereignty and the enforcement of common values creates legal and political tensions. Therefore, further development of effective and coherent mechanisms for safeguarding EU values is essential for ensuring the stability, unity and legitimacy of the European Union.