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MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION
P10_TA(2025)0129
on theThe Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Reportreport
(2024/2078(INI))
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
PE767.867
European Parliament resolution of 18 June 2025 on the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report (2024/2078(INI))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its resolution of 1 June 2023 on the breaches of the Rule of Law and fundamental rights in Hungary and frozen EU funds,
– having regard to the report of its Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) and to its recommendation of 15 June 2023 to the Council and the Commission following the investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware ,spyware,
– having regard to its resolution of 11 July 2023 on the electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland,
– having regard to its resolution of 19 October 2023 on the rule of law in Malta: six years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and the need to protect journalists,
– having regard to the Commission communication of 6 December 2023 entitled ‘No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred’ (COM(2023)0051),(JOIN(2023)0051),
– having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2024 on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union – annual report 2022 and 2023,
4. Underlines the important role of the national councils of the judiciary in safeguarding judicial independence; considers it necessary to evaluate the reforms that are in the process of being adopted in different Member States and encourages the adaptation of the composition and functioning of these bodies to the standards established by the Commission and the Council of Europe, and which have been endorsed by the CJEU; calls on the Commission in its future rule of law reports to place a particular focus on the roles, structures and functioning of Member States’ national judicial councils as part of its assessment of judicial independence;
5. Points out that the prosecution service is a key element in the capacity of a Member State to fight crime and corruption; regrets any governmental or political interference in corruption investigations and recalls that no one is above the law; condemns the misuse of the judicial system for political purposes, including the persecution of political opponents and interference in corruption investigations; stresses that both politically motivated prosecutions and amnesty laws and pardon procedures driven by political interests undermine public trust in constitutional principles and EU standards; highlights the importance of guaranteeing the autonomy and independence of the prosecution service, thereby preventing any political interference in its work, especially from the government; highlights the role of transparent appointment processes for prosecutors as a key factor in maintaining public confidence in criminal justice; highlights its concern about repeated attacks on judges and prosecutors who are conducting high-profile political investigations linked to cases of corruption and abuse of power perpetrated against political opponents;
6. Calls for disciplinary procedures for judges and prosecutors to be handled by independent bodies free from political influence and, where necessary, for the system of disciplinary procedures to be reformed to preclude their use by political authorities to control the judiciary;
29. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a directive on combating corruption which harmonises the definition of corruption offences in the public and private sector and the corresponding penalties; welcomes the inclusion of preventive measures, including on illicit political financing and training, in the directive on combating corruption, such as effective rules for the disclosure and management of conflicts of interest, open access to information and effective rules regulating the interaction between the private and the public sector; calls on the Member States to also put in place effective rules to address revolving doors, establish codes of conduct for public officials, establish a public legislative footprint, and ensure transparency in the funding of candidatures for elected public officials and political parties; appreciates that almost all Member States now have anti-corruption strategies in place; regrets, at the same time, that implementation and effectiveness vary; calls on the Member States that have not yet done so to develop and implement robust and effective anti-corruption strategies with the involvement of civil society; underlines the importance of the identification, notification, representation and coordination of victims of corruption; calls on the Member States to protect victims of corruption and enable them to have their views and concerns presented and considered at appropriate stages during criminal proceedings; calls on the Member States to ensure that victims of corruption have the right to adequate and proportionate compensation;
30. Calls on all the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies to strengthen their anti-corruption measures with regard to the disclosure and management of conflicts of interest, open access to information, rules regulating the interaction of EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies with the private sector, revolving doors and the code of conduct for public officials; considers that during their term of office, Members of the European Parliament should not engage in paid side activities with for-profit organisations or businesses seeking to influence EU policymaking; acknowledges the agreement on establishing the Interinstitutional Body for Ethical Standards;policymaking
31. Recognises the crucial role that whistle-blowers play in exposing corruption and promoting transparency across both the public and private sectors; stresses the need to protect whistle-blowers from retaliation and harassment; calls for independent and autonomous whistle-blower protection authorities to be further strengthened and further integrated into broader national anti-corruption frameworks, ensuring a unified and robust approach to combating corruption throughout all Member States;
56. Calls on all Member States to protect LGBTIQ rights in compliance with Union law, the Charter, and CJEU and ECtHR case-law, recalls that legal barriers to recognising same-sex partnerships or parenthood across borders persist in several Member States; warns that such practices not only hinder the free movement of LGBTIQ families within the EU, but also violate the rule of law principle of non-discrimination before the law, highlighting the lack of uniform protection for LGBTIQ individuals across Member States; calls on the Member States who have not yet done so to introduce legal recognition of same-sex partnerships; calls on the Commission to recast Directive 2004/38/EC in order to include an explicit cross-border recognition of private and family life rights, including parenthood for same-sex parents, in the light of the latest rulings of the CJEU; stresses that all children are equal before the law and that Member States must act in the best interests of the child, increase legal certainty and reduce discrimination against the children of same-sex parents; recalls Parliament’s position supporting the recognition of parenthood across the EU, irrespective of how a child is conceived or born, or the type of family they have; urges the Commission to present a renewed LGBTIQ strategy that fully addresses the challenges throughout Europe; calls on the Commission and the Council to make LGBTIQ rights a cross-cutting priority across all policy fields; calls on the Commission to put forward appropriate legislative measures to ensure respect for these principles, as well as to rely on infringement procedures against Member States; urges the Commission to present legislative proposals to combat hate crimes and hate speech on grounds of gender identity, sex characteristics and sexual orientation;
57. Is deeply concerned about the discriminatory measures introduced in some Member States under the pretext of fighting ‘LGBTIQ propaganda’ and ‘gender ideology’ which are contributing to an alarming increase in hate crimes and hate speech targeting LGBTIQ individuals in several Member States and have a negative impact on children, families and workers; welcomes the CJEU’s opinion of 5 June 2025 stating that it considers Hungary to be in violation of EU law in prohibiting or restricting access to LGBTIQ+ content; highlights the negative impact of such measures on the freedom of expression and assembly for LGBTIQ groups and beyond; emphasises that these actions encourage discrimination against LGBTIQ individuals and contravene EU law; urges the Commission to present a proposal for a binding EU ban on conversion practices in all Member States; notes that in 2024, both the Commission and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) noted an alarming increase in hate crimes and hate speech targeting LGBTIQ individuals and other minorities in several Member States, stresses the importance of the right to self-determination of LGBTIQ persons and reminds Member States that, in accordance with case-law, the right to self-determination is a fundamental right; therefore urges all Member States who have not done so yet to make sure that LGBTIQ individuals have access to legal gender recognition;
58. Is deeply concerned by and strongly condemns the rising levels of anti-Semitism across the EU; is also deeply concerned and strongly condemns the rising levels of Islamophobia and all other forms of discrimination across the EU, including acts of violence, intimidation, hate speech and the display of hate symbols in public spaces; calls on the Member States and candidate and potential candidate countries to make sure that members of all minorities are equal before the law; calls on the Member States to review laws and policies to ensure that they do not discriminate against minorities, directly or indirectly, and to review any discriminatory legal provisions and regulations; calls for sustained efforts at both EU and national levels to monitor, prevent and prosecute related hate crimes and to protect Jewish and Muslim communities from harassment and violence;
59. Emphasises that a lack of accountability disproportionately affects minorities’ communities, fair political representation, and economic opportunities; calls for increased transparency in public decision-making processes to ensure inclusive and equitable governance;
60. Calls on the Member States to fully implement Directive (EU) 2024/1500 and Directive (EU) 2024/1499, which establish minimum standards for equality bodies; calls for concrete measures to guarantee their independence and ensure their effectiveness in promoting equality;
61. Underlines that third-country nationals legally residing in the EU, regardless of their nationality or place of birth, must be treated in a non-discriminatory manner and enjoy fair and equal treatment in the areas specified by existing legislation; points out that third-country nationals, regardless of their nationality, place of birth or residence status, have the right to apply for international protection in compliance with international and EU law, of which the non-refoulement principle is an integral part; calls on the Commission to support the Member States in upholding the rule of law and fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter and in implementing the legislation adopted by the co-legislators; stresses the binding nature of the judgments of the CJEU and the ECtHR;
98. Recalls that decisions taken or not taken by the EU institutions often influence the rule of law situation in the Member States; criticises the fact that the rule of law status at the EU institutions remains outside the scope of the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report; requests that a chapter on the EU’s adherence to rule of law standards, based on an independent review mechanism, be included in the Commission’s 2025 rule of law report;
99. Proposes a comprehensive interinstitutional mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights covering all the values set out in Article 2 TEU and involving all EU institutions, Member States and candidate countries in order to foster uniformity; reiterates the proposal to create a permanent group of eminent personalities (‘wise persons group’) composed of independent legal, academic and human rights experts, tasked with systematically monitoring rule of law developments in Member States and providing regular assessments, recommendations and early warnings to the Commission; emphasises the need to ensure full independence and objectivity in the composition and functioning of this body, while adapting its mandate specifically to address rule of law challenges;
100. Believes that EU-level interinstitutional dialogue and cooperation on the rule of law should be strengthened; regrets the fact that the Commission and the Council have so far rejected its offer to enter into an interinstitutional agreement on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; reaffirms its willingness to resume talks on this agreement; calls on the other institutions, in the meantime, to at least explore further cooperation in the context of the proposed interinstitutional pilot on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, which would help build trust between the institutions in a practical way, in particular by sharing monitoring, dialogue and meeting practices; calls on the Council to make its rule of law dialogue more inclusive by inviting other institutions, such as the Venice Commission, the Human Rights Commissioner and representatives of Parliament, to its sessions; believes that the Council’s rule of law dialogue should become more interactive, with systematic provision of feedback; calls on the Member States to invest in proper preparation for this dialogue; emphasises that increased transparency would enhance the rule of law dialogue within the Union and therefore invites the Council to provide detailed public conclusions; urges the Council to engage with national parliaments to enhance democratic oversight of Member States’ compliance with EU rule of law standards; stresses that the rule of law report should be evidence-based and objective, addressing the Member States and EU institutions, and should include preventive and corrective measures;
106. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the Council of Europe and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The European Union is founded on the common values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty of European Union, common to all Member States and its people The values, namely democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights are mutually reinforcing and - especially in the 75th year of the Schuman declaration it is important to uphold and defend them.
These values cannot be taken for granted and we see backlash across the union, and therefore the European institutions must stand as a beacon of its defence.
Free, independent and pluralistic media is a key element of democratic oversight and therefore rule of law. Free, independent media is a watchdog against abuse of power and therefore remains an important element of checks and balances of democratic societies. The erosion of journalistic freedom and independence be it through misinformation and disinformation, concentration of media ownership, state propaganda and the lack of safety for independent journalists including SLAPP lawsuits undermines citizens’ trust in the system as well as its accountability.
Guaranteeing access to sexual and reproductive rights and health, namely access to free and legal abortion, as well as the respect for LGBTIQ rights is upholding the respect for the rule of law and for equality before the law. The backsliding in legal protections disproportionately affects certain groups of people, limiting their rights and hence hindering equality before the law. Several governments have passed legislation that directly targets LGBTIQ persons and by this violating the principle of Equality before the law.
Democratic resilience and accountability also come from a strong and free civil society, and the shrinking space for civil society organizations — including restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly and protest — poses a grave challenge to the rule of law and democracy. Increasingly, civil society actors face legal and administrative obstacles, surveillance, and even criminalization. In addition, civil society also faces restrictions in terms of funding.
The manipulation of public opinion and distortion of democratic debate must be fought against - platform algorithms are an emerging threat to the rule of law and democratic processes, including elections and in its transparency lie the fight against disinformation and the safeguard of democracy.
Finally, the judiciary must be shielded from political interference through robust safeguards. Judicial independence depends not only on institutional design but also on the protection and autonomy of those who serve within it.
This report of the European Parliament aims to shed light on these issues and their development during the last one year and call on the European Commission to uphold its role as guardian of the treaties and to defend the European project - one of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights.
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that she received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
9.4.2025
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
on the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report
(2024/2078(INI))
Rapporteur for opinion: Isabel WiselerLima
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Foreign Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Amendment 5
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Citation 45 a (new)
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Citation 48 a (new)
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)
Amendment 15
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Amendment 16
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 17
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Amendment 18
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Amendment 19
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 20
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Amendment 21
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 22
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Amendment 23
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Amendment 24
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 25
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 26
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Amendment 27
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 28
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Amendment 29
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 30
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Amendment 31
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 32
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Amendment 33
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Amendment 34
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Amendment 35
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Amendment 36
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Amendment 37
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Amendment 38
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Amendment 39
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Amendment 40
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Amendment 41
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Amendment 42
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Amendment 43
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Amendment 44
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Amendment 45
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Amendment 46
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Amendment 47
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Amendment 48
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Amendment 49
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Amendment 50
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Amendment 51
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Amendment 52
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Amendment 53
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Amendment 54
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Amendment 55
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Amendment 56
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Amendment 57
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Amendment 58
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)
Amendment 59
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Amendment 60
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Amendment 61
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Amendment 62
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur for the opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
26.3.2025
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS
for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
on the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report
(2024/2078(INI))
Rapporteur for opinion: Ilhan Kyuchyuk
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Legal Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Citation 34 a (new)
Amendment 5
Motion for a resolution
Citation 44 a (new)
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Citation 44 b (new)
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Citation 44 c (new)
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Citation 45 a (new)
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Citation 47
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Citation 47 – a (new)
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Amendment 15
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 16
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Amendment 17
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Amendment 18
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Amendment 19
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Amendment 20
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Amendment 21
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 g (new)
Amendment 22
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 h (new)
Amendment 23
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 i (new)
Amendment 24
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 j (new)
Amendment 25
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 26
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Amendment 27
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 28
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Amendment 29
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph - 7 a (new)
Amendment 30
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Amendment 31
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 32
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 33
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Amendment 34
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Amendment 35
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Amendment 36
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Amendment 37
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Amendment 38
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Amendment 39
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Amendment 40
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Amendment 41
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Amendment 42
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Amendment 43
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Amendment 44
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Amendment 45
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Amendment 46
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Amendment 47
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Amendment 48
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Amendment 49
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Amendment 50
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Amendment 51
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Amendment 52
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Amendment 53
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Amendment 54
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Amendment 55
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Amendment 56
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Amendment 57
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Amendment 58
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Amendment 59
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR THE OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The Chair in his capacity as rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE