The 2026 report by the NGO Civil Liberties Union for Europe describes a gradual deterioration in the rule of law in the European Union and a lack of follow-up to the recommendations made to the Member States.
The document published on Monday 30 March was drawn up following contributions from around 40 organisations covering 22 countries. It argues that 61% of the recommendations issued in 2025 show no progress or no visible progress, that 13% were deemed to be backsliding and that none have been found to be fully implemented, revealing a gap that is not narrowing between political commitments and actual implementation.
The four areas examined – justice, anti-corruption, media freedom and institutional balance – reveal unfavourable trends. Judicial systems remain weak, anti-corruption policies are making little progress and the media situation is deteriorating in several Member States.
In addition, the document shows a weakening of institutional control mechanisms and pressure on civil society.
There is therefore a desire for more stringent measures to improve the way recommendations are followed up and to counter this trend in several European countries.
Read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/lfd (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)