European Parliament adopts resolution on EU Rule of Law Report amid strong political divide

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report, reaffirming that the EU is founded on shared values including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, and respect for human rights.

The decision was taken during the plenary session in Brussels on April 29, 2026, with lawmakers highlighting that any weakening of these principles poses a systemic risk to rights and freedoms across the Union.

Strong Majority Supports Resolution
The resolution, drafted by MEP Kostas Arvanitis, was adopted with:

• 387 votes in favor
• 191 votes against
• 46 abstentions

It addresses key rule-of-law issues including judicial independence, press freedom, anti-corruption efforts, civil society protection, and the integration of social and economic rights.

Concerns Over Judicial Independence and Political Pressure
The text stresses that the rule of law requires binding legal accountability for public authorities and effective access to independent and impartial courts.

It strongly condemns the misuse of judicial systems for political purposes, including:

• Pressure on political opponents
• Interference in corruption investigations
• Politically motivated legal proceedings

According to the resolution, such practices undermine public trust in constitutional systems and EU standards.

Minority Rights and Civil Society Protection Highlighted
A key part of the adopted text focuses on the role of civil society in protecting minority rights and combating discrimination across the EU.

The resolution calls on Member States and the European Commission to:

• Strengthen the legal environment for civil society organizations
• Improve protection mechanisms for human rights defenders
• Respond rapidly to threats against civic actors
• Ensure broader inclusion of social and economic rights in rule-of-law assessments 

Call for Stronger EU Monitoring Mechanisms
Lawmakers also urged the Commission to deepen its methodology for future Rule of Law Reports by:

• Consulting the European Parliament more systematically
• Conducting on-the-ground country visits where possible
• Providing a more comprehensive assessment of national conditions

Minority Organizations Welcome Focus on Rights Framework
The European Western Thrace Turkish Federation (ABTTF) has previously submitted policy recommendations through MEP Loránt Vincze, urging stronger attention to discrimination and minority protection in EU reporting frameworks.

The group also called for closer alignment with Council of Europe instruments, including the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.