The Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 highlights a deepening rule of law crisis across the EU, marked by persistent democratic decline and a widening gap between recommendations and implementation. Drawing on input from nearly 40 organisations, the report finds that 93% of previous recommendations remain unimplemented, with many countries stagnating or backsliding, and some actively dismantling democratic institutions. Key areas of concern include judicial independence, corruption, media freedom, and weakening checks and balances, alongside increasing pressure on civil society and watchdog actors. At the same time, EU mechanisms are proving insufficient, with limited follow-up and declining credibility. Together, these findings point to a systemic challenge: without stronger enforcement, clearer benchmarks, and meaningful political action, the EU risks normalising democratic backsliding rather than preventing it. Read more here.
Source: Liberties