Communication and country chapters
The 2026 Rule of Law Report examines developments across all Member States, both positive and negative, in four key areas for the rule of law: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and freedom, and other institutional issues related to checks and balances. The Report, which consists of country chapters for all 27 Member States and for four enlargement countries (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia), is based on a qualitative assessment carried out autonomously by the Commission and incorporates an assessment of developments since the previous edition, as well as a follow-up to the challenges and developments identified in the 2025 Report. Additional contextual information about all countries can also be found online on the page linked below.
The Report includes concrete recommendations to all Member States, as well as qualitative assessments of the progress made towards the implementation of recommendations issued in the previous edition. Accordingly, the 2026 recommendations either build on last year’s recommendations, depending on the progress made, or address new challenges. The purpose of the recommendations is to further assist the Member States in their efforts to progress ongoing reforms and help them identify areas where improvements are needed.
The Commission has prepared this Report based on continued dialogue with the national authorities and in consultation with stakeholders across the EU, while fully preserving political responsibility for its assessment and the recommendations issued. The next edition will follow-up on the developments identified here and will continue to assess the implementation of the recommendations.
The 2026 Rule of Law Report continues the assessment of developments regarding the Single Market dimension initiated in the 2025 Rule of Law Report, drawing further on the inputs from business stakeholders and ensuring legal certainty and a predictable environment in which businesses can drive the EU’s economic growth.
The essential role of the Report in promoting reforms, supporting good governance and ensuring that rule of law challenges are being addressed in a pre-emptive manner is also reflected in the Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
2026 Rule of Law Report - Communication and country chapters
Methodology
The assessment contained in the country chapters has been prepared in line with the methodology as last updated in 2022, following discussion with the Member States, and with a view to reflect the inclusion of recommendations in the Report. The country chapters do not purport to give an exhaustive account of all rule of law issues in every country, but rather to present significant developments since the previous edition, published in July 2025. The assessment refers to EU law requirements, including those resulting from the case-law of the CJEU. In addition, the recommendations and opinions of the Council of Europe provide a useful frame of reference for relevant standards and best practices.
The Rule of Law Report is the result of close collaboration and dialogue with national authorities and relies on input from a variety of sources, as well as the Commission’s own data gathering. All Member States and enlargement countries were invited to contribute to the process, provide written input and participate in dedicated country visits held between January and March 2026. For these country visits, the Commission organised more than 600 meetings with national authorities, independent bodies and stakeholders, including civil society organisations (the detailed schedule of country visits can be found in the Documents section below). In addition, the Commission at political level has discussed the Report with national authorities and governments, as well as with representatives in national Parliaments. Prior to the adoption of this Report, national authorities have been given the opportunity to provide factual updates to their country chapter. The adopted report serves as a basis for subsequent Commission discussions with national governments and parliaments.
The network of national rule of law contact points established in 2020 to help setting up the Rule of Law Cycle, has continued to function as an ongoing channel of communication with Member States for the preparation of the Report as well as to exchange best practices. Since 2024, the four enlargement countries participate as observers to this network.
2026 Rule of Law Report -Methodology
Input from Member States and enlargement countries
All Member States were invited to provide information on significant developments, primarily since the adoption of the 2025 Rule of Law Report, based on an updated questionnaire, discussed with Member States. The input is structured around the four pillars covered by the Report - the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and media freedom, and other institutional issues related to checks and balances – and was provided in an agreed template. The written input was supplemented by exchanges during the country visits, sometimes followed by further written contributions or additional meetings. The enlargement countries also provided written input, complementing the information provided in the context of the enlargement process.
2026 Rule of Law report - Input from Member States
Targeted stakeholder consultation
As part of the preparation of the 2026 Rule of Law Report, the European Commission invited stakeholders to provide written contributions through a targeted stakeholder consultation, which ran from 4 December 2025 to 23 January 2026 This consultation resulted in approximately 280 horizontal and country-specific contributions from a variety of interested parties, including EU agencies, European networks, national and European civil society organisations, business stakeholders and professional associations and international and European organisations. The Council of Europe and the UN Human Rights Office also provided an overview of its recent opinions and reports. The information obtained in this consultation has contributed to the Commission’s assessment with factual findings on developments at national level.