Analyse
The claim aligns with **Article 2 TEU**, which explicitly defines the EU as founded on values like human dignity, democracy, and the rule of law, and mandates their promotion *inside* the Union (e.g., via Article 7 TEU enforcement mechanisms) and *outside* (e.g., through accession criteria, trade agreements, and foreign policy conditionality). Von der Leyen’s speech echoed longstanding EU rhetoric, including prior statements by the European Commission and Parliament. Her emphasis on 'standing up' for values also mirrors concrete actions, such as sanctions against member states like Poland and Hungary for democratic backsliding (2017–2023) and external policies like the **EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime** (2020). No evidence suggests the statement was hyperbole or misleading in context.
Achtergrond
The EU’s legal framework—particularly the **Treaty on European Union (TEU)**—codifies its identity as a 'values-based union.' These values are enforceable internally (e.g., infringement procedures, Rule of Law Reports) and serve as benchmarks for external relations (e.g., enlargement negotiations, partnership agreements). Von der Leyen’s speech occurred amid rising concerns about democratic erosion in some member states and global challenges to liberal norms, making the reaffirmation of values a central theme of her presidency.
Samenvatting verdict
Ursula von der Leyen’s 2019 statement accurately reflects the EU’s foundational treaties and repeated institutional commitments to upholding its core values both internally and externally.