Rechtsstaatlichkeit in der EU als Schlüsselfaktor für eine resiliente Außenpolitik gegenüber Autokraten

Anti-rule of law governing parties in the EU are courting the favor of autocratic great powers such as China or Russia, making the Union more vulnerable to their influence. This coalition of internal and external autocrats undermines the rule of law and further, the Union’s central foreign policy levers vis-à-vis third countries—enlargement and trade policy—are becoming less effective. In addition, state-capitalist structures are consolidating, which also limits the proper functioning of the EU’s energy policy. This article explores these developments and discusses what the EU can do to counteract autocratization.