The current pandemic in Europe and beyond has challenged the essence of democratic orders. In many EU Member States, a state of emergency was introduced. These states of emergency come in certain cases with a far-reaching curtailment of fundamental liberties, the free press and civil society, and even basic democratic functions. While a temporary state of emergency can be justified amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments – at least temporarily – undermined the values of democracy. This chapter explores to what extent the EU can operationalize the value of democracy enshrined in Article 2 TEU and protect it within the Member States.