The European Commission (EC) has published its latest report on the state of the rule of law across EU member states. The European Parliament (EP) also recently issued its position, following the 2024 review. Both institutions acknowledge progress in certain areas but also highlight ongoing risks related to media freedom, judicial independence, misuse of EU funds, and the protection of minority rights. The EP is calling for stronger tools to better safeguard the rule of law within the EU.
“The rule of law is one of the foundations of the European Union. Without respecting its principles, the EU could, colloquially speaking, fall apart. We already have negative experiences with countries such as Kaczyński’s Poland, Orbán’s Hungary, and now Fico’s Slovakia, where the rule of law, from the EU’s perspective, is disregarded. This leads to ignoring EU policies, court rulings, and Commission recommendations. Without the rule of law, the EU simply cannot function,” says Michał Wawrykiewicz, an MEP from Civic Coalition (KO).
“That is why EU institutions, such as the Commission, Council, and Parliament, monitor compliance with the rule of law across all member states.”
Sixth Annual Rule of Law Report
On July 9, the European Commission released its sixth annual report, reviewing developments in rule of law in all member states as well as in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
The EC notes positive reforms in four key areas:
- Judiciary and justice systems,
- Anti-corruption measures,
- Media freedom,
- Institutional checks and balances.
Since 2020, the EU has raised common standards by adopting the European Media Freedom Act, aimed at closing regulatory loopholes, and an anti-corruption package, which strengthens EU sanctions against corruption. However, the report also warns that the situation in some countries remains “serious.” Each member state has received detailed recommendations for improvement.
The European Parliament had already published its own report, serving as a contribution to the Commission’s findings.
“The Commission reviews the situation country by country and provides recommendations. The Parliament, on the other hand, looks at structural issues across the EU—judicial independence, media freedom, fundamental rights, cyberattacks—everything that collectively defines the rule of law,” explains Wawrykiewicz, co-author of the EP report.
Parliament Calls for Stronger Tools
The EP emphasizes the need for independent and efficient judicial systems with well-trained personnel. It condemns political interference in corruption investigations and the misuse of courts for political purposes. It also calls for stricter enforcement of EU values and Court of Justice (CJEU) rulings, warning that the legitimacy of the EU legal order is at risk.
The report highlights the deterioration of minority rights, particularly for LGBTIQ+ communities, and denounces attacks on press freedom, the use of spyware against journalists and civil society, and the spread of disinformation undermining democracy.
“A key novelty is the proposal to strengthen the EU’s ‘toolbox’ for protecting the rule of law. This includes establishing a permanent expert group under the Commission to monitor all member states. There are also calls to link rule of law violations with single market institutions, enabling sanctions beyond financial penalties, which often prove ineffective. Hungary is a prime example of openly ignoring Commission recommendations and EU court rulings,” Wawrykiewicz stresses.
Hungary, Poland, and Systemic Violations
The EP report again points to systemic breaches of EU values in Hungary, including political influence over the prosecutor’s office and misuse of EU funds.
“The EU cannot expel a member state—current treaties don’t allow for that. But the founders of the EU likely never anticipated that member states would blatantly violate the rule of law as Hungary or, in the past, Poland under Kaczyński have done. If countries start refusing to comply with CJEU rulings or Commission recommendations, the EU will collapse in the long run,” Wawrykiewicz warns.
Linking EU Funds with Rule of Law
The Commission’s report states that future EU spending programs (post-2027) will make compliance with rule of law a precondition for accessing funds. The Parliament is calling for a more comprehensive set of tools to firmly tie EU funding to the observance of rule of law standards.
“The EU has sanction mechanisms, such as suspending voting rights under Article 7, but our experience with Poland and Hungary shows that this instrument is almost ineffective because it requires unanimity. Therefore, we are advocating for new approaches to sanctions to protect the rule of law. We cannot allow autocrats to undermine the EU from within,” says the KO MEP.
Poland’s Progress and Recommendations
The EC report notes Poland’s progress in separating the roles of the Justice Minister and the Prosecutor General, which strengthens prosecutorial independence, as well as improvements in ensuring fair and transparent media licensing procedures.
However, Poland is encouraged to:
- Continue implementing its Rule of Law Action Plan, including reforms of the National Council of the Judiciary and the Constitutional Tribunal,
- Introduce lobbying regulations,
- Establish a central online asset declaration system for public officials and MPs, with robust verification mechanisms.
“The EU is not just an ATM where we can withdraw funds; it comes with rules that all members must follow. Poland joined the EU not only for financial benefits but also to adopt a shared code of values that defines the Western democratic community. This was a dream of entire generations,” says Wawrykiewicz.
Rising Public Trust in the EU
According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 63% of Poles trust the EU (compared to 51% of Europeans overall), marking an 11-point increase from the previous survey. 93% of Poles report being satisfied with life, 7 points above the EU average. Satisfaction with democracy has also risen by 12 points to 78%, placing Poland fifth among EU countries.
