BRUSSELS

Only 18% of recommendations from last year’s European Commission Rule of Law Report were fully implemented or showed "significant progress," down from nearly 20% in 2024, according to a new commission report.

In its 2025 Rule of Law Report published Tuesday, the commission also found that 57% of the recommendations from the 2024 report were addressed either fully or partially.

This year's report assesses the rule of law situation in all 27 EU member states as well as Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, four candidates for membership in the bloc.

It highlights progress in many countries, with reforms advancing in key areas such as justice, anti-corruption, media freedom, and institutional checks and balances. Yet serious concerns persist in several states, notably member states Hungary and Slovakia. In enlargement countries, reforms continue, but political interference and weak implementation remain issues.

"While it is the case that there are improvements in many member states, we cannot and will not ignore the fact that in some member states, systemic concerns remain," Michael McGrath, the commissioner for justice, said when presenting the report.

McGrath stressed that while dialogue remains the EU's primary approach, the commission stands ready to use its legal tools when necessary. "In the case of Hungary, we recognize a deteriorating environment for civil society and growing legal uncertainty," he said.

Hungary remains subject to several EU-level procedures and mechanisms, he said, including the Article 7 process launched over rule of law backsliding, the application of the rule-of-law conditionality mechanism, and the horizontal enabling condition that has limited access to EU funds. Currently, approximately €18 billion ($21.1 billion) in loans and grants remain unavailable to Hungary due to rule of law concerns, McGrath confirmed.

"Where dialogue doesn't lead to results and positive change, then we have to act, and we have to use our toolbox, and that is what we continue to do, and we stand ready to take further steps in relation to Hungary as necessary," he added.