From scrutiny to implementation : reinforcing the impact of the rule of law report

Abstract

The Rule of Law Report is an annual exercise to monitor Member States’ compliance with this core EU value. First published in 2020, the latest edition of the Report has introduced country specific recommendations to guide Member States’ action in correcting the problems identified. This Policy Brief examines the evolution of the Report and suggests some proposals to further strengthen its soundness and legitimacy in subsequent editions. Methodologically, the Report could benefit for a more comprehensive assessment based on robust standards and indicators, as well as for a more developed justification of the selection of sources. In terms of enforcement, this Brief proposes to further work on the Report’s fit with the other instruments, particularly with the recently developed conditionality Regulation. The Report might also seek to exploit its full potential as a promotion tool if the Commission invests in an enhanced communication strategy. This brings added value since a civil society supported rule of law culture promotes institutional changes for better compliance with the EU’s fundamental values.