State of the rule of law in Europe – 2023

Reports from National Human Rights Institutions

About the report

As independent, state-mandated bodies with a broad human rights mandate, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are essential to upholding human rights, democracy and rule of law.

Their joint reporting helps assess the level of respect for the rule of law at national level and aids efforts by both national and regional actors to tackle rule of law challenges in the region.

Key findings

NHRIs reported on pressing rule of law challenges in various areas. Discover more below.

Human rights defenders and civil society space
Artificial intelligence, rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights
Establishment, independence and effectiveness of NHRIs
Implementation of European Courts’ judgments
Other persisting challenges for the rule of law, including structural human rights issues

Explore the country reports

Click to find a country report

ALBANIA • ANDORRA • ARMENIA • AUSTRIA • AZERBAIJAN • BELARUS • BELGIUM • BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA • BULGARIA • CROATIA • CYPRUS • CZECH REPUBLIC • DENMARK • ESTONIA • FINLAND • FRANCE • GEORGIA • GERMANY • GREAT BRITAIN • GREECE • HUNGARY • ICELAND • IRELAND • ITALY • KOSOVO* • LATVIA • LIECHTENSTEIN • LITHUANIA • LUXEMBOURG • MALTA • MOLDOVA • MONACO • MONTENEGRO • NETHERLANDS • NORTH MACEDONIA • NORTHERN IRELAND • NORWAY • POLAND • PORTUGAL • ROMANIA • RUSSIA • SAN MARINO • SCOTLAND • SERBIA • SLOVAKIA • SLOVENIA • SPAIN • SWEDEN • SWITZERLAND • TURKIYE • UKRAINE

Discover more resources

A photo of a gavel lying down on a book and justice scales behind them. They are placed on front of the bookshelf.

2023 NHRI Academy: Rule of Law

Lawyer,Concepts,To,Testify,To,Clients,And,To,Provide,Counseling

ENNHRI learning resources about the rule of law

A copper statue of lady justice holding scales. She is standing in front of a blue the sky.

State of the rule of law in Europe 2022 – ENNHRI

Close-up Of Mallet And Justice Scale In Front Of European Union Flag

State of the rule of law in Europe 2021 – ENNHRI

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.