European Commission presented the first annual Rule of Law report

The European Commission on September 30 presented reports on the new rule of law mechanism in all Member States.

The new instrument replaces the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism reports, which concerned only Bulgaria and Romania.

In addition to issues related to the rule of law and inter-institutional relations, the new mechanism will also monitor the state of the media, judicial reform, the fight against corruption and freedom of expression in the Member States.

The reports were presented by EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders and European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová.

Today's report includes inputs from each Member State and covers both positive and negative developments across the EU.

It shows that many Member States have high standards in the area of ​​the rule of law, but also that there are serious challenges in the EU in this area. It also takes into account the relevant changes resulting from the emergency measures taken by Member States due to the coronavirus crisis.

The report covers four main pillars strongly related to the rule of law: national justice systems, anti-corruption, pluralism and freedom of the media, and other institutional checks and balances.

The aim of the new Rule of Law Report is to enrich the existing EU tools with a new prevention tool and to provoke an inclusive debate and build a culture of the rule of law across the EU. The report should help all Member States explore ways to overcome challenges, learn from other countries' experiences and show how the rule of law can be further strengthened with full respect for national constitutional systems and traditions.