2020 Rule of law report

Communication and country chapters

The 2020 Rule of Law Report presents both a synthesis of the rule of law situation in the European Union and, in its 27 country chapters, Member State specific-assessments of significant developments related to the rule of law. It covers four pillars: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and other institutional issues related to checks and balances. The country chapters rely on a qualitative assessment carried out by the Commission. They focus on a synthesis of significant developments since January 2019 introduced by a brief factual description of the legal and institutional framework relevant for each pillar. The assessment presents both challenges and positive aspects, including good practices. The Commission has ensured a coherent and equivalent approach by applying the same methodology and examining the same topics in all Member States, while remaining proportionate to the situation and developments.

2020 Rule of Law Report: Communication and country chapters

Methodology

The Rule of Law Report is the result of close collaboration with Member States and relies on a variety of sources. The assessment contained in the 27 Country Chapters has been prepared in line with the methodology discussed with Member States. This methodology will continue to guide the preparation of the next editions of the annual Rule of Law Report. For each pillar, the methodology recalls the EU law provisions relevant for the assessment. It also refers to opinions and recommendations from the Council of Europe, which provide useful guidance.

A network of national rule of law contact points has been established to help setting up the mechanism, to discuss its methodology, and to act as an ongoing channel of communication with Member States. The Commission received written input from all Member States and from over 200 stakeholders, and conducted more than 300 virtual meetings with all Member States, stakeholders and civil society.

2020 Rule of Law Report: methodology

Input from member states

All Member States were invited to provide information on the overall legal and institutional framework in their countries and on significant developments since 2019 according to an agreed template. The information was structured around the four pillars covered by the Report: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism, and other institutional issues related to checks and balances.

2020 Rule of Law Report - input from Member States

Targeted stakeholder consultation

As part of the preparation of the 2020 Rule of Law Report, the European Commission invited stakeholders to provide written contributions through a targeted stakeholder consultation opened from 24 March to 4 May 2020. The consultation has provided over 200 horizontal and country-specific contributions from a variety of EU agencies, European networks, national and European civil society organisations and professional associations and international and European actors. The information obtained from this consultation has fed the assessment of the Commission with factual findings on developments in the Member States.

2020 Rule of Law Report: targeted stakeholder consultation