Rule of law is laid down in the EU treaties as one of the values on which the Union is based. It means that governments should be bound by law&nbsp;not to take arbitrary decisions, and that citizens should be able to challenge their actions in independent courts.

It also enshrines the fight against corruption, which unfairly favours some to the detriment of others, and the safeguarding of media freedom, thus ensuring that the public is properly informed about the work of government.

The EU has existing tools at its disposal to protect the rule of law. In&nbsp;September 2020, the European Commission published the first annual rule of law&nbsp;report monitoring both positive and negative developments with regard to the rule of law in all member states. In July 2021 the second edition of the report was published.

There is also&nbsp;dialogue on the rule of law in the Council.

If the Commission deems that a member state is violating EU law, it can start infringement proceedings that may lead to financial sanctions determined by the European Court of Justice. Another procedure, under Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, allows the Council to make recommendations or decide by unanimity on sanctions against a member state, including the suspension of membership rights.&nbsp;MEPs have argued that existing tools are insufficient.

​Under the new regulation, effective from January 2021, EU budget payments can be witheld from countries where established breaches of the rule of law compromise management of EU funds. At the same time, the EU ensures that final beneficiaries do not end up paying the bill.

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

EU - Poland (T)

EU - Hungary (T)

EU - Slovakia (T)

EU - Slovenia (T)

rule of law

Rule of law

LIBE rule of law mission to Bratislava (Slovakia): meeting with Robert FICO, Slovak Prime Minister

LIBE rule of law mission to Bratislava (Slovakia): meeting with Martina ŠIMKOVIČOVÁ, Slovak Minister of Culture

LIBE rule of law mission to Bratislava (Slovakia): meeting with Marcela KOSOVÁ, President of the Judicial Council and meeting with Milan HODÁS, Slovak State Secretary of the Ministry for Justice

LIBE rule of law mission to Bratislava (Slovakia): arrival of the delegation, statements by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), Chair of LIBE Committee, and Sophie WILMÈS (Renew, BE), Chair of the DRFMG Working Group, and meeting

DrFMG - LIBE delegation in Slovakia - Meeting with Prime Minister Eduard Heger, Minister of Interior Roman Mikulec and Minister of Justice Maria Kolíkova

DrFMG - LIBE delegation in Slovakia - meeting with Slovak media, meeting with NGO’s and meeting with parents of Jan Kuciak.

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights in Hungary and Poland

Infoclip: Rule of law - Hungary

CONT Press conference  - The EU Commission has to Cut Funding to Hungary: The Legal Case

Plenary Session - Rule of Law situation in the European Union and the application of the conditionality regulation 2020/2092

EP Plenary session - The Rule of Law conditionality mechanism

Infoclip: Rule of law - Poland

LIBE/DRFMG delegation in Slovakia

LIBE delegation in Budapest

EP Plenary debate on the threats to fundamental rights in Hungary

Plenary debate - Rule of Law in Slovakia

Plenary debate - Hungary: threats to rule of law.

Debate - Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law

EP Plenary session - Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Communication on the Democracy Shield: closing statements by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection

Communication on the Democracy Shield: MEPs debate

Communication on the Democracy Shield: Opening statement by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection

EU Parliamentary Democracy Forum: speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Press conference by Chloé RIDEL (S&D, FR), Rapporteur, on the EU role in tackling transnational repression amid a global surge in authoritarianism

Speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, at The Quest for the Rule of Law, symposium by the AFCO Committee

Delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination: closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination: MEPs debate

Delayed justice and rule of law backsliding in Malta, eight years after Daphne’s assassination: opening statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Infoclip: Democracy and Rule of Law

Press Conference by Bas EICKHOUT, (Greens/EFA, NL) and Terry REINTKE, (Greens/EFA, DE), co-presidents and Gergely KARÁCSONY, Mayor of Budapest on freedom of assembly and rule of law in Hungary: intimidation against the mayor of Budapest, and others

Budapest Pride March 2025 with the participation of Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUŢĂ, EP Vice-President, and MEPs: extracts from the event

Budapest Pride March 2025 international press conference: Q&A

Budapest Pride March 2025 with the participation of Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUŢĂ, EP Vice-President: extracts from the international press conference

Budapest Pride March 2025, international press conference: opening statements by Gergely KARÁCSONY, Hadja LAHBIB, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUŢĂ Vice President of the EP and Máté HEGEDÚS

Press conference by Ana Catarina MENDES (S&D, PT), rapporteur on the Commission's 2024 Rule of Law report﻿

Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act: closing statement by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection

Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act: MEPs debate (part 2)

Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act: MEPs debate (part 1)

Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act: one round of political group speakers

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