The report analyzes the adherence to rule-of-law principles by the institutions of the European Union and assesses the extent to which the EU itself lives up to the standards it demands of its Member States. Edited by the CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest, the study examines key policy areas including the judiciary, anti-corruption, media freedom, transparency, digital regulation, and migration governance.
At its core, the report asks how consistently the EU upholds and enforces its own fundamental values – the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights. It identifies institutional shortcomings, such as in judicial independence, access to information, and the implementation of ethical standards, while also highlighting progress achieved through new EU instruments like the European Media Freedom Act and the Anti-SLAPP Directive.
The aim is to critically assess the EU’s rule-of-law architecture and outline ways in which the Union can strengthen its credibility as a guardian of democratic and rule-of-law values – both within and beyond its Member States.
