Civil Liberties Report Highlights Erosion of Rule of Law in Multiple EU Countries
A recent report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe reveals deliberate efforts by several EU governments to weaken the rule of law, with significant declines in democratic standards across the region.
A recent report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) indicates a deliberate erosion of the rule of law in several European Union member states. The study identifies Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia as "dismantlers" actively weakening democratic institutions. Additionally, countries with strong democratic traditions, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, and Sweden, are experiencing regression in areas such as justice, anti-corruption measures, media freedom, and checks and balances.
The report highlights that 93% of the European Commission's recommendations from previous years were repeated in 2025, often without any changes in wording, while the number of new recommendations was cut in half compared to 2024. Out of 100 recommendations assessed by Liberties, 61 show no progress, and a further 13 are backsliding.
Ilina Neshikj, Executive Director of Liberties, stated, "When the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report was introduced in 2020, it was intended as a preventive tool, prompting concrete action before problems became entrenched. Seven years on, our findings highlight not only backsliding but also ongoing, deliberate efforts to undermine the rule of law. Repeating recommendations without meaningful follow-up will not reverse this trend."
The report also notes that EU institutions themselves have mirrored issues seen in member states, including the normalization of exceptional, fast-track lawmaking and the rollback of fundamental rights protections.
In the United Kingdom, recent legislative measures have significantly constrained the right to protest. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 have broadened police discretion to impose conditions on protesters, make pre-emptive arrests, and pursue prison sentences for nonviolent protest activity.
Human Rights Watch has criticized these developments, stating, "The UK is now adopting protest-control tactics imposed in countries where democratic safeguards are collapsing."
The Liberties report underscores the need for robust and effective action by EU countries and institutions to address these challenges and uphold democratic principles.
