Critical Reasoning (CR)
Q. Poland and Hungary’s domestic laws are incompatible with the European Union’s core values, however, both countries enjoy impunity. The latest infringement proceedings against the two countries underscore the EU’s limits in enforcing compliance with common democratic standards given the bloc’s stringent requirement of unanimity among all member states to punish offending members. In theory, both states can be stripped of their voting rights in the EU and face financial sanctions. But each also knows that a unanimous decision by the bloc, under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, could be vetoed by the other.
Which one of the following captures the essence of the given paragraph?
- Both Poland and Hungary enjoy impunity despite their laws infringing on the EU’s core values.
- A unanimous decision by the EU, taken under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, can be vetoed by both Poland and Hungary.
- The EU must remove the unanimous decision clause to be able to punish offending members.
- The EU does not have an adequate enforcement mechanism for its democratic standards.
Please Note: The answer to this question will be posted tomorrow morning as a comment below.
See our previous ‘Questions of the Day’:
Verbal Question of the Day: 46
Verbal Question of the Day: 45