Sanctions

Sanctions

Economic sanctions can be decided under the Economic and Monetary Union when member states have a deficit in their publiv finances above 3% of their GNP. Many countries are far above under the financial crises from 2008 without having had to pay fines. See the rules in the Lisbon Treaty Art. 126.9-11 TFEU.

Economic sanctions and boycot can be imposed on third countries by qualified majority according to Art. 215 TFEU (previously 301 TEC) with Court control in Art 275 TFEU.

LEX AUSTRIA

Political sanctions: Member states can lose their voting rights if the other EU countries find that they have breached Human rights.

Under the Treaty of Nice a so-called lex Austria article has been introduced. It is repeated in the Lisbon Treaty as Art. 7 TEU.

The implementation with more detailed voting rules and sanctions can be found in Art. 354 TFEU.

Four-fifths of the member states, with the support of an absolute majority of members in the European Parliament, can warn a counry against its possible breach of common principles.

Voting rights may then be suspended by superqualified majority in the Council and two-thirds majority in the European Parliament, also representing an absolute majority of members.

The Lisbon Treaty include the lex Austria in Art. 7 TEU and Art. 354 TFEU.

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