The European Commission’s first report on the state of the rule of law in the European Union recognised an NHRI in compliance with the Paris Principles as an indicator for a healthy national rule of law situation. It states that NHRIs “play an important role as rule of law safeguard and can provide an independent check on the system in a rule of law crisis.”

In the same year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for NHRIs’ involvement in an EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights. It calls for NHRIs to be involved in the different stages of the Mechanism. At the same time, it stresses that an independent NHRI in compliance with the UN Paris Principles can serve as an indicator of respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in EU Member States.