Work

The European Semester as a Governance Mechanism for Rule of Law Risks in the EU

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The European Semester is an economic governance tool that the European Union (EU) uses to monitor and coordinate national policies, but it has also evolved into a mechanism to address rule-of-law risks in Member States. By linking financial support to reforms, particularly through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the Semester helps enforce rule-of-law standards and represents an innovative approach to safeguarding EU values. However, this process raises concerns about democratic accountability, and it overlooks broader societal concerns.

Source: European Journal of Risk Regulation

DOI: 10.1017/err.2025.29

Authors: Louise Fromont, Arnaud Van Waeyenberge

Institutions: Université Libre de Bruxelles, HEC Paris

Language: English

Topic: European Union Policy and Governance

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,550