Good afternoon everyone, and thank you all so much for being here.

For 7 editions now, the Rule of Law report examines rule of law developments across all member states. Since 2022, the report also includes recommendations.

These serve as drivers of reform and lead to close cooperation between the Commission,

member states, and other EU institutions.

In 2024, 4 enlargement countries were included in the report.

Because as we know, the rule of law is fundamental to EU accession.

And in 2025, the single market dimension was enhanced because the rule of law ensures stability and certainty for businesses,

which is essential for Europe's competitiveness.

The rule of law report is an annual exercise, but one that is always evolving to reflect new priorities.

This year I visited Budapest following the elections,

where I saw with my own eyes what restoring the rule of law means to the people of Hungary.

They were convinced that the law cannot be a tool of but must be a check on power,

and like many things in life, we appreciate the rule of law most once it's gone.

And it was a cause of celebration in Hungary to be able to work to restore it.

So the rule of law may sound abstract at times, something that concerns only lawyers and courts,

but its presence and absence is really tangible for the citizens of the European Union.

It means that everyone is equally held to the same rules and standards that have been agreed democratically and that are upheld with transparency and accountability.

Corruption can be brought to light and punished, meaning public money serves citizens, not private interests,

and it means that journalists can speak truth to power and inform citizens, meaning that those in power are scrutinized.

The annual rule of law report is in a way for Europe what a regular health check is for people.

It helps prevent problems from emerging in the first place or from deepening. Prevention is better than cure.

The report is based on a solid,

transparent and objective methodology that ensures equal treatment of all member states.

It was developed over the years in cooperation with the member states and is published transparently on the commission's website.

Every year, the Commission carries out hundreds of meetings with national authorities, judicial institutions, civil society organizations,

and other stakeholders in each and every member state and in the 4 enlargement countries included in the report.

For example, this year, about 6 100 meetings were held with all of these stakeholders in the preparation of the report,

and I visited the 27 member states of the European Union and engaged on rule of law issues and appeared before many of the national parliaments to discuss the national rule of law situation.

And the report presents its findings across 4 key pillars covering justice systems,

anti-corruption frameworks, media pluralism and freedom, and other institutional checks and balances.

The report promotes an open dialogue with member states.

It forms the basis of the rule of law dialogue in the General Affairs Council.

It informs debates in the European Parliament, and it serves as a basis of transparency and accountability for our citizens.

This year's report confirms a broadly positive trajectory with some important reforms completed or in progress.

Nearly 1 in 2 of the recommendations made in 2025 have since been addressed by member states either fully or partially.

Of course, some recommendations might take longer to address.

Due to legislative or electoral cycles, and some of them are indeed complex.

So the picture remains uneven across the Member states and pillars with some challenges persisting in places.

But there are important positive examples from across our union, just to cite a few.

In Bulgaria, a reform preventing political influence in the Supreme Judicial Council was adopted last year.

In Hungary, new laws increase transparency and create tools to fight corruption.

In Romania, a new law on lobbying obliges members of Parliament to register meetings on laws with third parties.

Free, open, and pluralistic media has also been strengthened more broadly, with many member states acting to ensure compliance with the European Media Freedom Act,

otherwise known as EMFA, and the EVP has also touched on this issue.

Some issues previously addressed through rule of law recommendations are now covered by the legally binding provisions of EMFA.

Our approach is therefore evolved, where EMFA now provides the framework, we will no longer have recommendations in the rule of law report,

but we will follow up on those issues through the enforcement of EMFA.

I'm determined to make EMFA not just groundbreaking legislation.

But indeed to make it a reality on the ground,

and I'll continue working with member states and stakeholders to ensure its effective application because free and independent media are not a luxury of democracy,

they are one of its very foundations.

The results in this 7th edition of the Rule of Law report demonstrate the importance of Europe having an early warning system.

As a preventative tool, it leads to transparent dialogue and to consistent cooperation.

Looking ahead, President von der Leyen has long said that the rule of law is a must for EU funds.

This is why the Commission's proposal for the next EU long term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework,

strengthens the link between the rule of law report's recommendations and EU financial support.

And to strengthen the rule of law further before the end of this year, the Commission will present a series of anti-corruption initiatives in the coming months, including a review of the EU's anti-fraud architecture,

and EU anti-corruption strategy, and the strengthening of the EPPO following its evaluation and the third report on the PIF Directive,

which is the directive on the protection of the Union's. Financial interests.

So to conclude, with our union facing growing political polarization, pressure on democratic institutions, economic uncertainty,

and increasing external threats, the rule of law is not simply a principle to defend. It is part of the solution.

And finally, can I just take the opportunity to thank all of the colleagues across the services in the Commission.

Who contributed to the completion of the rule of law report for 2026.

It was once again a great team effort, a huge undertaking.

It's always complex and never easy,

but we came up with a report that I think is fair and balanced for all of the member states and the four enlargement countries.