When the watchdog stays in his kennel

In January, inevitably, media and think tanks produce the obligatory lists: what must we look out for in 2022? What are our opportunities? Which dangers are we facing?

For Europe, external threats top this year's lists.

With geopolitical tensions mounting, this is hardly a surprise. But internally, there is a substantial threat, too: the European Commission is less and less inclined to discipline EU member states when they violate European laws and regulations.

As the guar...