European Commission Releases 2026 Rule of Law Report

The European Commission published its seventh annual Rule of Law Report on July 17, 2026, assessing 27 EU member states and four candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The report describes a broadly positive trajectory for judicial independence, anti-corruption frameworks, and media freedom, though progress remains uneven across the union.

European Commissioner Michael McGrath reported that 47% of the 2025 recommendations were addressed fully or partially, marking a decline from 57% the previous year. While the commission praised judicial reforms in Bulgaria and anti-corruption tools in Hungary, it identified persistent challenges. These include low perceived judicial independence in Croatia and Bulgaria, a lack of lobbying laws in Hungary, and concerns over EU law primacy in Slovakia.

Country-specific findings varied. Luxembourg received praise for its anti-corruption frameworks and high public perception of judicial independence, though it was urged to accelerate the digitalization of proceedings. Romania showed improvement in its legislative framework for judicial independence, but the commission flagged ongoing issues with corruption, undue pressure on magistrates, and limited transparency in media ownership. The commission further noted that High Court rulings in Romania led to the annulment of convictions in high-level corruption cases.