ENNHRI welcomes the recently published European Commission 2024 Rule of Law Report. In this, the Commission underlines that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) freedom to operate is directly relevant to the rule of law and points out challenges faced by them. Furthermore, the Commission recommends that Member States step up efforts to establish and ensure enabling space for NHRIs. The Commission report’s findings again drew on regional and country-specific information submitted by ENNHRI and its members.

The report and its key findings

Building on the information collated by ENNHRI, the report highlighted the challenges faced by NHRIs in EU Member States and enlargement countries. These include threats to the independence and effective functioning of NHRIs; their access to information; a lack of sufficient resources to carry out their mandates; and obstacles to timely appointments of heads of institutions.

The report also analysed EU Member States’ follow-up to the Commission’s country-specific rule of law recommendations. Concerning the recommendations on NHRIs, the Commission reiterated its recommendation to Croatia to further improve the follow-up to recommendations and ensure a more systematic response to information requests of the NHRI. At the same time, the Commission concluded that the operating framework for Polish and Lithuanian NHRIs has improved considerably.

European Commission support for NHRIs: work until now and future steps

ENNHRI welcomes the European Commission’s for its continuous dedication to and support the establishment of NHRIs in line with UN Paris Principles in Czechia, Romania, Italy and Malta. The Commission’s ongoing engagement in addressing the challenges in establishing NHRIs as well as in the effective functioning of NHRIs in Europe has also been crucial. To counter the identified challenges effectively, ENNHRI invites the European Commission to consistently tackle the issues NHRIs face. This includes strengthening the process of implementing recommendations as well as issuing further dedicated recommendations on NHRIs.

As NHRIs are reliable and independent sources of information on the rule of law and human rights situation on the ground, ENNHRI welcomes the European Commission’s references to the information provided by NHRIs on the national rule of law shortcomings. At the same time, ENNHRI encourages the European Commission to consistently bring to bear ENNHRI’s findings across its regional report and country chapters. It also calls for Commission engagement with ENNHRI’s members within the report’s follow-up process, including during country visits.

ENNHRI’s contributions to the European Commission’s rule of law work

For the fifth consecutive year, ENNHRI contributed to the EU’s rule of law monitoring cycle. It provided regional and country-specific information reported by ENNHRI members. This comprised both EU Member States and the four enlargement countries covered by the Commission’s report (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia).

ENNHRI and its members stand ready to continue cooperating with the European Commission to address persisting and emerging rule of law issues in the region. ENNHRI will also continue supporting the effective follow-up to the Commission’s recommendations, in particular those concerning NHRIs.

More on ENNHRI’s work on the rule of law

Discover ENNHRI’s dedicated contribution to the European Commission’s monitoring cycle on the state of the rule of law in the EU.

Dive into the regional analysis of the state of the rule of law in wider Europe and all individual country reports in ENNHRI’s new tool. This allows users to compare and browse all findings from this and previous years.

Read more on ENNHRI’s work on democracy and the rule of law.

Image Source:  Jennifer Jacquemart / EC – Audiovisual Service