In order to give a precise answer to your question, Mr Ford, I must remind you that in order for the mechanism established by Article 7.1 of the Treaty on European Union to be applied, there must be proof of the existence and I quote, of a "serious and persistent breach by a Member State of the principles mentioned in Article 6."
Men for at svare konkret på medlemmets spørgsmål, skal jeg minde om, at der for at anvende den mekanisme, der er fastsat i unionstraktatens artikel 7, stk. 1, kræves bevis for, jeg citerer, en grov og vedvarende overtrædelse af principperne i artikel 6.