2024 Rule of Law Report: EU Strengthens Its Capacity to Address Challenges

The European Commission has released its fifth annual Rule of Law Report, which assesses significant developments and evaluates the rule of law situation across all EU member states. The report reveals that the EU is now significantly better equipped to identify, prevent, and tackle emerging challenges compared to five years ago. This advancement contributes to more robust European democracies, mutual trust within the EU, efficient functioning of the single market, and a competitive, sustainable business environment.

Progress and Ongoing Challenges

Each year, the Rule of Law Report includes new recommendations for EU countries. In the 2023 report, 68% of the recommendations have been fully or partially addressed, indicating that the report is driving positive reforms. However, persistent systematic concerns remain in some countries, with certain situations continuing to deteriorate.

This year's report also includes chapters on Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, supporting their reform efforts and ongoing work on the rule of law as they progress toward EU membership.

Key Findings and Recommendations of the 2024 Report

1. Justice Reforms:
   • Significant reforms to enhance judicial independence have been initiated.
   • Persistent systemic concerns and specific cases of deterioration in judicial independence were noted.
   • Recommendations include establishing safeguards in judicial appointment procedures, ensuring the autonomy of the prosecution service, and providing adequate resources.
2. Anti-Corruption Frameworks:
   • Corruption remains a serious concern, but EU countries have improved their capacity to combat it by increasing resources for law enforcement, prosecution, and the judiciary.
   • Further actions are recommended to strengthen preventive frameworks and ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of corruption cases.
3. Media Freedom and Pluralism:
   • Steps have been taken to improve journalists' safety and working conditions, and the roles of national media regulators have been expanded.
   • Ongoing concerns include the independent governance and financial stability of public service media, transparency of media ownership, access to public documents, and the fair allocation of state advertising.
   • Recommendations focus on these areas to ensure a free and pluralistic media landscape.
4. Institutional Checks and Balances:
   • Efforts to improve legislative processes have been noted, but challenges remain, such as the excessive use of accelerated procedures, the quality of law-making, and restrictions faced by civil society and human rights defenders.
   • Recommendations aim to strengthen legislative processes and support the functioning of independent authorities.

The Importance of Rule of Law

The rule of law is fundamental to the EU’s identity and is a prerequisite for respecting other core values. According to the latest Special Eurobarometer survey, more than seven in ten EU citizens believe the EU plays a crucial role in upholding the rule of law in their country. Nearly nine in ten EU citizens think it is vital that all EU countries respect the core values of the union.

The 2024 Rule of Law Report underscores the EU’s commitment to reinforcing these principles, highlighting progress and areas needing further improvement to ensure a resilient and fair European Union.

Article source: https://commission.europa.eu/news/2024-rule-law-report-eu-better-equipped-face-rule-law-challenges-2024-07-24_en

Photo attribution: Claude Truong-Ngoc / Wikimedia Commons - cc-by-sa-3.0, Inauguration EYE2014 Parlement européen Strasbourg 9 mai 2014, CC BY-SA 3.0