European Commission issues 2026 Rule of Law Report showing mixed progress in EU and candidate countries

The European Commission released its 2026 annual Rule of Law Report, covering all 27 EU member states and four candidate countries (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia). The report notes that Croatia has continued reforms in the judiciary, anti‑corruption measures and media freedom, receiving praise for newer criminal‑procedure and whistle‑blower laws. Greece is listed among the 13 EU states with a positive trajectory in every assessment area, but the Commission flagged unresolved investigations of the Predator spyware scandal and highlighted concerns about judicial independence and transparency. In Montenegro, the report records persistent low public confidence in judicial independence, ongoing pressures on prosecutors, and worries about media ownership by Serbian companies. The Commission also points to remaining challenges in Romania’s access to information for journalists and the need for further judicial reforms. Overall, while many countries show continued improvement, the Commission warns that specific issues—such as media pluralism, corruption control and the handling of high‑profile surveillance cases—still require attention.