Respect for the 'rule of law' is, according to Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, a value on which the EU is founded and a prerequisite for the accession of new Member States. However, in some Member States, there are deficiencies regarding the independence of the justice system or other aspects of the rule of law, and, on several occasions, the EU has been confronted with a rule of law crisis. In order to address the problem, this book elucidates the principal elements of a common European rule of law in a global context and explores the different mechanisms and instruments appropriate to safeguard the rule of law and to address future rule of law crises in the Member States. It brings together contributions from renowned academics, high-ranking professionals, and experts in the fields of European law, public international law, and constitutional law.