Rule of law in the EU: an array of concerns in Parliament’s annual assessment

Persistent, systemic, and new threats to the rule of law across the EU

Worrying trends: non-compliance with court rulings, civic space erosion, and attacks on EU values

Calls for strengthened enforcement tools and urgent follow-up

Parliament’s assessment of the Commission’s 2024 rule of law report and of recent developments highlights a broad range of threats to EU values across member states.

The report adopted on Wednesday by 405 votes for, 210 against, and with 36 abstentions, delivers MEPs’ yearly review of the Commission’s latest rule of law report, and points to worrying developments.

Justice, equality, accountability, and transparency

Parliament underlines the need for independent, effective judicial systems with highly qualified personnel, and stresses the importance of assessing ongoing reforms in member states, while also condemning interference in corruption investigations and the misuse of judicial systems for political ends. It reiterates its call for stronger enforcement of EU values and decisions of the Court of Justice of the EU, warning that the legitimacy of the EU legal order is at stake.

The report underscores the deterioration of protection for minorities and vulnerable groups, with a strong focus on LGBTIQ+ people. It deplores the intention of the Commission to withdraw the draft horizontal equal treatment directive and calls for hate crimes and hate speech to be criminalised at EU level.

MEPs condemn attacks on press freedom, the use of spyware against journalists and civil society, and the spread of disinformation undermining democratic processes, calling for full implementation of recent EU legislation such as the Digital Services Act and the Media Freedom Act.

Better tools for persistent, systemic, and new challenges

Parliament highlights worrying developments in relation to the right of assembly and a rapidly shrinking civic space, attacks on LGBTIQ+ rights, weak anti-corruption enforcement, the rise of extremism, threats to electoral processes, and the use of technology to curtail democratic rights..

MEP also reiterate the need for a “more comprehensive toolbox” that links EU funding more closely to compliance with the rule of law. They warn against the potential misuse of this conditionality against civil society, urging the Commission to ensure that EU funds reach their final recipients, including via direct funding mechanisms.

Hungary

The report expressly mentions Hungary’s persistent breaches of EU values, referencing political influence on the prosecution service and misuse of EU funds, and urging the Council to unblock stalled Article 7 proceedings.

Quote

After the vote, rapporteur Ana Catarina Mendes (S&D, Portugal), said: “Democracy thrives on the separation of powers, freedom of the press, access to justice, and respect for fundamental freedoms. Without these, the rule of law becomes an empty formality −and space opens up for authoritarianism. This Parliament cannot ignore threats to our values, when journalists are targeted with spyware in Italy, basic civil liberties for LGBTIQ+ people are under attack in Hungary, and reproductive freedom is threatened by a new nationalist president in Poland. The silence of democrats is the greatest boon for extremists.”

A press conference is scheduled for 15:00 on Wednesday 18 June.

Next steps

The report serves as Parliament’s contribution ahead of the Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report, expected in July. MEPs urge the Commission to incorporate more binding recommendations and improved methodology, while calling on all institutions to strengthen cooperation and resolve in the face of growing threats.