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The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report

TA-10-2025-0129 · P10_TA(2025)0129 · PE767.867

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Parliament's resolution on the Commission's 2024 Rule of Law Report addresses judicial independence, anti-corruption, media freedom, civil society, equality, and the rule of law toolbox. It calls for stronger enforcement, including infringement procedures and conditionality, and urges the Commission to expand the report's scope.

Key points

  1. Calls for independent judiciaries, transparent judicial appointments, and disciplinary procedures free from political influence; urges the Commission to monitor judicial independence and access to justice.
  2. Demands implementation of CJEU and ECtHR judgments, with deadlines and monitoring; urges infringement procedures and financial penalties for non-compliance.
  3. Calls for stronger anti-corruption frameworks, including codes of conduct, lobbying transparency, and protection of whistle-blowers; urges all Member States to join the EPPO.
  4. Urges swift implementation of the European Media Freedom Act and Anti-SLAPP Directive; calls for protection of journalists and measures against hate speech and disinformation.
  5. Calls for a safe environment for civil society and human rights defenders, condemning 'foreign agent laws' and restrictions on protests; urges dedicated EU funding and early warning mechanisms.
  6. Urges action against discrimination, including hate crimes and hate speech; calls for gender-based violence to be added to EU crimes and for LGBTIQ rights to be protected.
  7. Condemns systemic discriminatory practices in Hungary and recommends suspending EU fund disbursements until rule of law benchmarks are met.
  8. Criticises Council inaction on Article 7 TEU proceedings; urges hearings at least once per presidency and a more active role for Parliament.
  9. Calls for a closer link between rule of law findings and EU budget allocation, including performance-based instruments and 'smart conditionality' to bypass governments undermining the rule of law.
  10. Urges the Commission to expand the annual report to cover the full scope of Article 2 TEU, including fundamental rights, and to include a chapter on EU institutions' adherence to rule of law standards.
  11. Demands a Commission communication by 31 December 2025 detailing which of Parliament's requests it will implement.

Who is affected

  • Member States: must implement recommendations, ensure judicial independence, combat corruption, protect media freedom and civil society, and respect equality.
  • EU institutions, including the Commission and Council: must enforce rule of law, apply conditionality, and improve transparency and dialogue.
  • Candidate and potential candidate countries: must respect rule of law and fundamental values during accession.
  • Civil society organisations and human rights defenders: should be protected and supported, with dedicated funding.
  • Journalists and media: must be protected from attacks and SLAPP, and media freedom and pluralism ensured.

Figures and deadlines

  • 74 % of respondents thought the EU plays an important role in upholding the rule of law; 89 % believed it is important for all Member States to respect EU core values.
  • 68 % of Europeans considered corruption widespread in their country, 65 % believed high-level corruption cases are not pursued sufficiently, and 41 % believed corruption has increased.
  • Commission must issue a communication by 31 December 2025 detailing implementation of Parliament's requests.

Legal basis: Articles 2, 3(1), 3(3), 4(3), 5, 6, 7, 11, 19 and 49 TEU; Articles 70, 258, 259, 260, 263, 265 and 267 TFEU