Sanctions

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. According to Art. 7 TEU in the Treaty of Nice four-fifths of the Member States, with the support of an absolute majority of members in the EU Parliament, can warn against a breach of common principles. Voting rights may then be suspended by qualified majority in the Council and two-thirds majority in the EU Parliament, also representing an absolute majority of members.

Economic sanctions can be imposed on third countries by qualified majority according to art. 301 TEC.

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