The European Commission plays a central role in the development and implementation of European Union policies on human rights both within the Union and in regard to third countries.

Among the many activities in this field, mention should be made of the Annual Report on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which from 2021 gathers the main developments in the Member States in relation to four areas: the judicial system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and other institutional issues related to the power balance system.