The Rule of Law
The rule of law, along with respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and respect for human rights, is a fundamental principle of the European Union, enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. It guarantees accountable governments and equal citizens’ rights and applies equally to all Member States.
The rule of law is a crucial component of democracies, protecting independent courts that ensure the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights and civil liberties, a free and pluralistic media landscape and an active civil society.
In recent years, the EU has been confronted with systematic threats to the rule of law in various member states. As compliance with and respect for the rule of law are crucial for the EU’s credibility both internally and internationally, EPD works closely with civil society organisations and the EU institutions to identify threats and make recommendations to strengthen the rule of law in Europe.
Do you want to learn more about our work on the Rule of Law? Contact our Policy Coordinator at [email protected].
Our publications on the rule of law
EU DOCUMENTATION
EU DOCUMENTATION
Council of the EU
- Evaluation of the Council’s rule of law dialogue – Presidency conclusions 2023
- Rule of law conditionality mechanism: Council decides to suspend €6.3 billion given only partial remedial action by Hungary
- General Affairs Council configuration (GAC)
Court of Auditors
- The rule of law and the Commission’s action to protect the EU’s financial interests in the cohesion policy and the RRF
- Opinion No 1/2018 concerning the proposal of 2 May 2018 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States
- Special Report: EU support for the rule of law in the Western Balkans
European Commission
- 2023 Rule of Law Report – Communication and country chapters
- 2022 Rule of law report – Communication and country chapters
- Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States
- Rule of law framework
- Initiative to strengthen the rule of law in the EU
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL A new EU Framework to strengthen the Rule of Law
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL Further strengthening the Rule of Law within the Union State of play and possible next steps
- COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Strengthening the rule of law within the Union A blueprint for action
European Economic and Social Committee
- EESC Opinion: Rule of law and the recovery fund (own-initiative opinion – FRRL)
- EESC Opinion: Further strengthening the Rule of Law within the Union. State of play and possible next steps (Communication)
- EESC Opinion: The Union’s budget and the rule of law
- EESC Opinion: European control mechanism on the rule of law and fundamental rights (own-initiative opinion)
- Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law – National developments from a civil society perspective, 2020-2021
European Parliament
- Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget
- 2018/0136(COD) – Protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States
- European Parliament resolution of 30 March 2023 on the 2022 Rule of Law Report – the rule of law situation in the European Union
- European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights
- European Parliament resolution of 14 November 2018 on the need for a comprehensive EU mechanism for the protection of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights
- European Parliament resolution of 1 March 2018 on the Commission’s decision to activate Article 7(1) TEU as regards the situation in Poland
- LIBE Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG)
GREAT READS
GREAT READS
- Article 19 (2022), Civil society recommendations for an ambitious rule of law report in 2022, here.
- Civil Liberties Union for Europe (2022), Liberties Rule of Law Report 2022, here.
- Civil Liberties Union for Europe (2023), Liberties Rule of Law Report 2023, here.
- Closa, C. & Kochenov, D. (2015), Reinforcement of the Rule of Law Oversight in the European Union: Key Options, here.
- Elsuwege, P. and Gremmelprez, F. (2020), Protecting the Rule of Law in the EU Legal Order: A Constitutional Role for the Court of Justice, here.
- European Civic Forum (2023), The Rule of Law report needs a broader approach and concrete recommendations in order to fully serve its purpose, here.
- European Civic Forum & Civic Space Watch (2021), Civic space in the European rule of law framework, here.
- Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) (2023), How to Improve the EU’s Rule of Law Toolbox, here.
- Konstadinides, T. (2017), The Rule of Law in the European Union: The Internal Dimension, here.
- Kowald, K. (2020), Protection of the Union’s budget in case of ‘rule of law’ deficiencies, here.
- Mańko, R. (EPRS) (2019), Protecting the rule of law in the EU: Existing mechanisms and possible improvements, here.
- Mańko, R. (EPRS) (2022), The European Commission’s annual rule of law reports: A new monitoring tool, here.
- Meijers Committee (2020), EU-relevant “rule of law” protection instruments, procedures, policies and tools: an overview of available instruments, here.
- Pech, L. (2022), The Rule of Law as a Well-Established and Well-Defined Principle of EU Law, here.
- Scheppele, K. L., Kochenov, D. & Grabowska-Moroz, B. (2020), EU Values Are Law, after All: Enforcing EU Values through Systemic Infringement Actions by the European Commission and the Member States of the European Union, here.
- Venice Commission (2016), The Rule of Law checklist, here.
Cover photo by the Court of Justice of the European Union.