For the seventh year in a row, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) throughout Europe have shined a light on their national rule of law situations. Covering developments from 2025, their country reports and ENNHRI’s regional overview examine key trends and challenges. These cover topics ranging from NHRIs’ enabling environment and civil society space to disinformation and law-making processes. Building on these, recommendations are addressed to state authorities and regional actors to strengthen the rule of law. Explore the new findings in ENNHRI’s online database, including the regional overview and national reports.

Main findings of ENNHRI’s 2026 rule of law report

Rule of law actors under pressure

The number of accredited NHRIs in Europe remained stable in 2025. Nonetheless, a majority of European NHRIs reported structural challenges affecting their enabling environment. These include a persistent lack of adequate funding and resources, insufficient follow-up by national authorities to NHRI recommendations, and barriers to accessing information. Disinformation campaigns and attacks targeting their institutions, leadership, and staff were also signalled by some NHRIs.

Several NHRIs reported civil society space as narrowing or showing signs of doing so. Issues included a lack of funding for civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs), alongside attacks on them and the criminalisation of their activities. These prevented them from operating freely and securely.

Democracy at a crossroads: growing disinformation and persistent shortcomings in law-making processes

Across Europe, democratic governance is increasingly being tested. Disinformation is a multifaceted issue which is undermining trust in institutions and full enjoyment of human rights. In some European states, foreign disinformation campaigns have also become a security issue.

Law-making processes are affected by persistent issues. Among them are limited stakeholder participation, insufficient human rights impact assessments, a lack of transparency, and an increased use of fast-track or emergency legislative procedures.

Recommendations to strengthen the rule of law and democracy

NHRIs are a bridge between civil society, national authorities, and regional actors such as the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe. They are uniquely placed to accurately assess the state of rule of law and advise national and regional policymakers on advancing it. In doing so, they also help create more resilient, stable, and just democracies.

Based on this year’s findings, ENNHRI recommends European states and regional actors to:

• Strengthen the enabling environment for NHRIs by providing adequate support and funding to carry out their work effectively, and by ensuring sufficient safeguards to protect them from threats, attacks and interference;
• Ensure access of CSOs and HRDs to adequate sources of funding, including foreign ones, and guarantee their freedom of assembly and association while protecting them from attacks and negative narratives;
• Strengthen efforts to counter disinformation in line with human rights standards;
• Ensure law-making processes are transparent, human rights-compliant, inclusive, and timed in a manner that allows for meaningful consultation.

Furthermore, ENNHRI recommends regional actors to:

• Continue strengthening support for NHRIs across the region, including through clearer guidance on their role in implementing regional standards;
• Implement regional initiatives such as the EU Civil Society Strategy with a focus on establishing dedicated and region-wide mechanisms for CSOs and HRDs;
• Pursue a comprehensive approach in close collaboration with NHRIs to tackle key challenges linked to disinformation, including through initiatives such as the European Democracy Shield, and the New Democratic Pact for Europe.
• Set a positive example in law-making processes both by ensuring their inclusiveness and transparency and by improving the quality of consultation processes.

Discover all the findings and more

Explore the full regional report through ENNHRI’s online database, including the regional overview and all country reports.

Read ENNHRI reports from earlier this year on the state of the rule of law in the EU and EU enlargement countries.

Find out more on the rule of law and why it matters so much to people’s everyday lives in this recent explainer.

Learn more about ENNHRI’s wider work on democracy and the rule of law.