MEPs warn that persistent gaps in the rule of law are weakening democratic safeguards in the EU and that Commission recommendations are not being implemented. The text, which was approved by the European Parliament plenary with 387 votes in favor, 191 against and 46 abstentions on Wednesday, examines the Commission’s 2025 rule of law report while simultaneously assessing developments in member states and EU institutions.
Parliament emphasizes that 93% of the Commission’s recommendations are repetitions from previous years. Judicial independence, anti-corruption mechanisms, media freedom, civil society space, equality and democratic accountability institutions remain at risk, while the annual report continues to fail to denounce serious structural threats. These weaknesses directly harm citizens’ access to justice, protection from discrimination, freedom of expression, access to information, democratic participation and proper use of public funds.
Kostas Arvanitis on the rule of law report: “Democracy won today in the European Parliament”
Rapporteur Kostas Arvanitis (The Left, Greece) commented: “The approval of the report by a broad majority of political groups from the democratic spectrum constitutes a milestone of institutional order and an indicator of the consolidation of normality in the area of rule of law. The text covers all thematic branches of the field, excellently expresses our concerns about rule of law irregularities in member states, and includes numerous coherent improvement proposals. I thank the fellow MEPs who supported it, and I hope the report will constitute an important reference tool and strong legacy for our future actions to strengthen the rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy.”
In a related post, Mr. Arvanitis subsequently stated: “Democracy won today in the European Parliament. It is the victory of consensus, institutional responsibility and European normality against petty political logic and national opportunism. Europe won. From A to Z, this report ALSO points to the Greek government. What some tried to present as a domestic issue is now recognized as a European matter of democracy and institutional accountability. Our struggle to make Greece a model of rule of law in a Europe of principles and values continues within and beyond borders”
🚨 Και… ΕΓΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ!
🔻 Η Έκθεσή μας για το Κράτος Δικαίου 2025 υπερψηφίστηκε από την Ολομέλεια με 387 ψήφους υπέρ, 191 κατά, 46 αποχές.
🏛️ Η δημοκρατία νίκησε σήμερα στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο. Είναι η νίκη της συναίνεσης, της θεσμικής ευθύνης και της ευρωπαϊκής κανονικότητας… pic.twitter.com/UN3oE2EnQ7— Kostas Arvanitis 🔻 (@kostarvanitis) April 29, 2026
Rule of law & European Parliament: Concerns in the justice sector
MEPs warn of excessive political influence in judicial appointments, disciplinary panels, promotions and case assignments. They call on member states to ensure that justice systems are structurally independent, effective and impartial, with adequate resources, free legal aid and mechanisms to prevent political pressure.
Furthermore, MEPs condemn the political instrumentalization of justice systems, including interference in corruption cases, politically motivated prosecutions, attacks against judges and prosecutors, and abuse of amnesties and pardons. They also seek to strengthen enforcement of EU Court and European Court of Human Rights decisions and ask the Commission to address prison conditions as a rule of law issue.
Persistent corruption issues
MEPs characterize corruption as a serious threat to democracy, rule of law and equal treatment, warning that inadequate enforcement of available legal tools promotes impunity and erodes citizens’ trust. They welcome the anti-corruption directive and call for stricter penalties, specialized oversight bodies and effective action in high-level cases. Parliament also calls for full EU participation in GRECO and strengthened cooperation between EU bodies dealing with corruption.
Pressure on media freedom and civil society
Parliament underlines that the murder of journalists constitutes a direct attack on the rule of law, while threats, harassment and abusive lawsuits discourage investigative journalism. MEPs condemn the use of surveillance spyware and sound the alarm about political interference, state-controlled advertising, concentrated ownership and pressure on public media.
Parliament also warns about the shrinking of civil society space (through excessive administrative burden, funding cuts, smear campaigns and criminalization of human rights organizations and defenders) and reiterates that restrictions on civil society and freedoms of assembly and association must be justified, proportional and consistent with guaranteed rights.
Fundamental rights, EU funds and enlargement
Parliament links rule of law with fundamental rights, expressing concerns about discrimination, hate speech, racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, anti-LGBTI+ measures, gaps in minority rights, gender-based violence, migration and asylum policies, as well as barriers to sexual and reproductive health and related rights. MEPs also warn that EU funds may be linked to rights violations and call for payment suspensions where deficiencies persist. Finally, they argue that rule of law scrutiny must be strict in the context of EU enlargement and that all countries must meet the same high standards.
