European Commission: published report on the rule of law situation in the European Union 2025

The European Commission published its sixth annual Rule of Law Report, examining rule of law developments in all Member States. 

The 2025 Report includes a Communication examining the situation in the EU as a whole and 27 country chapters looking at significant developments in each Member State (see the focus on Italy’s country chapter here). The Report also includes an assessment of last year's recommendations to the Member States, and, on that basis, once again provides specific recommendations addressed to all Member States.

This year's Report confirms that there is a positive trajectory in many Member States, as important reforms have been taken forward across the four key areas covered by the report – justice, anti-corruption, media freedom and institutional checks and balances. While challenges remain in some Member States, and in a few cases the situation is serious, the overall engagement with the process remains strong, and Member States have addressed a substantial number of the 2024 recommendations, in full or in part.

Key findings this year encompass:

• Justice systems: Significant strides in judicial reforms across many EU Member States, yet some nations grapple with sluggish progress, resource limitations, and ongoing challenges. Enlargement countries, in particular, face threats to judicial independence.
• Anti-corruption frameworks: While public sentiment strongly opposes corruption and anti-corruption measures are being fortified EU-wide, numerous Member States and enlargement countries continue to struggle with effectively preventing, investigating, and prosecuting corruption, especially in high-profile cases.
• Media freedom and pluralism: EU Member States are actively implementing reforms to bolster media freedom, protect journalists, and ensure public service media independence. However, considerable hurdles remain in safeguarding media regulator autonomy, enhancing ownership transparency, and ensuring fair state advertising allocation. Enlargement countries face additional challenges related to media politicization and public broadcaster viability.
• Institutional checks and balances: Despite concerted efforts to reinforce checks and balances across the EU, many Member States encounter difficulties in maintaining legislative stability, nurturing civil society, and conducting effective public consultations. Some nations face more acute issues, including undue restrictions on civil society and inadequate responses to recommendations from independent bodies.

The Rule of Law Report and the annual rule of law cycle contribute to the resilience of Europe's democracy, security and economy in a global environment where the respect for fundamental rights and democratic systems are increasingly under pressure. It is therefore essential for the EU to reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law and to take concrete steps to promote and defend it.