THE EROSION OF THE RULE OF LAW AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND CITIZENS' TRUST IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
THE EROSION OF THE RULE OF LAW AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND CITIZENS' TRUST IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Summary/Abstract: The research explores the relationship between the erosion of the rule of law at the national level and citizens' trust in the institutions of the European Union. The rule of law, a fundamental value of the European Union construction and a guarantee of authentic democracy, becomes fragile where justice is politicized, where transparency fades and where the balance of powers is shaken. In these circumstances, the perspective of citizens oscillates between two landmarks: the European Union, perceived as a promoter and guarantor of the principles of the rule of law and democratic rights and freedoms, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, Eurosceptic discourses, which transform distrust into the political weapon of the rulers. The research hypothesis targeted the impact of democratic regression at the national level on the weakening of trust in the Union. The conclusions indicate a nuanced answer: the hypothesis was only partially confirmed, as the effects vary between strengthening European legitimacy and fueling its contestation. Thus, the contribution of the study consists in highlighting the ambivalent nature of the impact of the erosion of the rule of law, which complements the specialized literature by integrating the legal and socio-political dimensions into the analysis. Thus, the research demonstrates that the future of the European project and the consolidation of European integration depend not only on institutional mechanisms, but also on the Union's capacity to cultivate citizens' trust in common values.

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