Funding Illiberal Democracy: The Case for Credible Budgetary Conditionality in the EU

This paper argues that without conditioning access to EU funds on respect for the founding values in a credible manner the EU runs the risk of funding many more illiberal governments in the years to come. It explores the literature on the impact of EU financial assistance on domestic politics to argue for budgetary conditionality. The paper also argues for measures of sound financial management to counter the risks of illiberal governmental practices, proposing to draw on existing anti-fraud methods in order to counter oligarchic-clientelistic practices in the member states.