DISINFO: EU laws threaten sovereignty of the Member States

The report advances a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative painting the EU as a disunited and disintegrating bloc, overseen by a central bureaucracy bringing harm to the sovereignty of member states. Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union may not be invoked unilaterally by any one state or non-elected EU institution. Instead, the decision on its triggering must follow a "reasoned proposal by one third of the Member States, by the European Parliament or by the European Commission," obtain the approval of MEPs, and pass a four-fifth majority in the Council of the EU (p. 19). It is not a political tool allowing Brussels to amend national legislation on an ad hoc basis, but a complex and lengthy procedure followed only in cases whereby a member state-level law poses a clear risk of a serious breach of fundamental EU values, listed in Article 2 (p. 17). Likewise, the amendments to the 1991 Firearms Directive -- passed with unanimous support of EU member states -- were preceded by thorough policy debates among member states and members of the European Parliament. The process was accompanied throughout by fact sheets, studies, and press releases regarding its progress. The final version of the amendments was in fact the result of a compromise between the law makers. The EU policy governing the migration flows is based on relevant Treaty articles, whereas secondary provisions addressing the types, volumes, and integration of non-EU migrants are implemented with the consent of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.