Today, the European Commission published its seventh annual Rule of Law Report , assessing the state of the rule of law across all EU Member States, as well as four candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
The rule of law underpins Europe's prosperity, democracy and security. Independent justice systems, effective anti-corruption frameworks, free and pluralistic media, and strong checks and balances protect citizens' rights and sustain trust in public institutions and democracy. They provide the legal certainty that supports investment, competitiveness, and economic growth.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: "The rule of law builds trust. Trust among citizens. Trust for businesses. It is what makes Europe the best and safest place to live and invest. This year's Report shows continued positive progress across many Member States. And that is precisely why our Rule of Law Report matters. It has become a reference point, helping to shape national debates and drive reforms across our Union."
Over time, the Report has become an established tool for engaging in dialogue with Member States on key issues related to the rule of law. Its recommendations are a driver for reform in Member States.
This year's Report confirms a broadly positive trajectory, showing continued progress in many Member States, with significant reforms completed or underway across all areas monitored under the report. While the picture is uneven across Member States and policy areas and some challenges persist, the Report and its recommendations continue to drive reform and change through sustained engagement with Member States.
In the Commission's proposal for the next EU's long-term budget. the Report and its recommendation will also play an important role to help ensure that strong safeguards are in place for the protection of the Union's budget. In particular, the Commission has proposed that the new National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) within the MFF should address challenges identified in the Rule of Law Report. The Report will also be one of the sources of information for the Commission's assessment of Member States' respect of the Charter and horizontal conditions on the rule of law in the implementation of the NRP Plans.
Equal and fair treatment of Member States, a clear and consistent application of EU standards, and a dialogue-based process are the underlying principles of the Rule of Law Report that will continue to guide the Commission's work with Member States.
Key findings this year:
Justice systems
Many Member States have advanced on justice reforms over the past year. Positive measures include strengthening the independence of Councils for the Judiciary, additional safeguards for judges' appointments and disciplinary procedures, and strengthening the autonomy of prosecution services. Reforms are however progressing at a slower pace in some Member States, and serious concerns remain in certain cases. In most enlargement countries, efforts to implement judicial reforms continued, while concerns persisted regarding undue influence hampering judicial independence.
Anti-corruption frameworks
The Directive on combatting corruption , which entered into force on 31 May 2026, establishes a modern and harmonised framework to prevent, detect and sanction corruption in the EU. The Commission is supporting Member States in their transposition efforts and to further improve their anti-corruption frameworks. As this year's Rule of Law Report shows, several Member States have developed new anti-corruption strategies and strengthened their institutional capacity to fight corruption. At the same time, further action is needed to strengthen preventive frameworks, such as those related to lobbying and conflicts of interest, as well as to ensure the effective investigation, prosecution and final judgments in corruption cases. In most enlargement countries covered in the Report, legal and institutional frameworks were strengthened, while the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of corruption cases need to be further improved.
Media freedom and pluralism
Reforms are under way in Member States to align their national laws with the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). Several Member States are undertaking reforms to strengthen the independent functioning and financing of public service media, as well as fairness and transparency in the allocation of state advertising. With EMFA providing for binding legislation on several media freedom topics, the Rule of Law Report no longer includes recommendations on those aspects. They are being followed up on as part of the Commission's enforcement of EMFA. Furthermore, increased attention is being given to improve the safety and protection of journalists from continuing threats. The Commission will continue to support a stronger enabling environment and safety for journalists and for quality newsreporting, including by updating its Recommendation on the safety of journalists . Many Member States are taking concrete steps to address the phenomenon of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (the so-called SLAPPs), and the Commission continues working with them to support the transposition and implementation of the anti-SLAPP Directive . In most enlargement countries covered in the Report, appointments made to governance structures of public service media and media regulators have increased their stability, while concerns persist over media market concentration and the editorial independence of public broadcasters.
Institutional checks and balances
Reforms to improve legal certainty and legislative quality have been taken forward. In some Member States, shortcomings persist regarding the excessive use of emergency legislative procedures and the lack of stakeholder involvement. The Report finds that many Member States continue to ensure an enabling and supportive framework for civil society, and sustain efforts to further improve their operating environment. However, civil society actors continue to report challenges in a number of Member States, including limitations to funding and peaceful assembly. In the enlargement countries covered in the Report, institutions upholding checks and balances can generally perform their functions, while some challenges persist, for example in ensuring an enabling environment for civil society.
Single Market dimension
Across the four pillars, the Report emphasises the impact of the rule of law for the functioning of the Single Market and the operating environment for businesses. For example, the Report provides information on the specialisation of courts and judges to handle commercial cases; measures to prevent corruption in public procurement; investment protection; and the stable regulatory environment necessary for business to operate in predictable conditions.
Next steps
The Commission invites the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to continue general and country-specific debates based on the report and its recommendations. It also encourages national parliaments, civil society and other stakeholders to continue the dialogue at both national and European level.
The Commission calls on Member States to address the challenges identified in the Report, and stands ready to support the implementation of the recommendations. For the enlargement countries covered in the Report, the Commission will follow up on the issues identified, including in its next annual reports on enlargement. As announced by President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her Political Guidelines 2024 – 2029 , other accession countries will be included in the Rule of Law Report as and when they are ready.
Background
The annual Rule of Law Report is the result of close dialogue with national authorities and stakeholders. The Report covers all Member States and four enlargement countries on the basis of the same objective and transparent methodology , examining the same set of issues in each country.
The 2026 Report consists of a Communication examining the situation in the EU as a whole and 27 country chapters looking at significant developments in each Member State. The Report assesses the implementation of last year's recommendations to the Member States, and, on that basis, provides another set of specific recommendations . The Rule of Law Report also covers four country chapters looking at developments in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia since the 2024 Rule of Law Report. This supports the reform efforts made by these countries to achieve progress on democracy and the rule of law ahead of accession, and to guarantee lasting high standards after accession.
The Rule of Law Report sits at the centre of the annual Rule of Law Cycle . This yearly cycle is preventive: it serves to promote the rule of law and aims to prevent the emergence or deepening of problems. It is separate from the other elements in the EU's Rule of Law Toolbox and complements - but does not replace - the Treaty-based mechanisms allowing the EU to respond to rule of law-related issues in the Member States. These tools include infringement proceedings and the procedure to protect the founding values of the Union under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union.
