The Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law report – annual report 2025

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 13
   Current text

   13. Condemns the misuse of the judicial system for political purposes, including the persecution of political opponents and interference in corruption investigations; stresses that politically motivated prosecutions undermine public trust in constitutional principles and EU standards; highlights the importance of guaranteeing the autonomy and independence of the prosecution service, thereby preventing any political interference in its work, especially from the government; highlights the role of transparent appointment processes for prosecutors as a key factor in maintaining public confidence in criminal justice; highlights its concern about repeated attacks on judges and prosecutors who are…

   Amendment

   13. Condemns the misuse of the judicial system for political purposes, including the persecution of political opponents and interference in corruption investigations; stresses that politically motivated prosecutions undermine public trust in constitutional principles and EU standards; highlights the importance of guaranteeing the autonomy and independence of the prosecution service, thereby preventing any political interference in its work, especially from the government; highlights the role of transparent appointment processes for prosecutors as a key factor in maintaining public confidence in criminal justice; condemns the abuse of amnesties and pardons for the benefit of politicians, as i…

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2. Amendment 2PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 65 a (new)
   Amendment

   65a. Expresses concern that direct EU funding to media organisations may create financial dependencies that risk undermining editorial independence; calls for the EU institutions to establish strict safeguards for such funding, including full transparency of allocation procedures, political neutrality and guarantees that no funding is made contingent upon adherence to specific political viewpoints or editorial lines;

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3. Amendment 3PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 77
   Current text

   77. Calls on the Member States to establish frameworks that guarantee people’s freedom to seek, receive and impart information, and to ensure that national coordinators under the Digital Services Act (DSA) can fully perform their role in facilitating information exchange and cooperation at EU level; underlines the importance of timely and effective implementation of the DSA to ensure a safe, transparent, and accountable online environment; calls on the Member States to ensure that the transposition of Directive (EU) 2016/343 on the presumption of innocence fully respects freedom of expression and information as guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 1…

   Amendment

   77. Strongly condemns any attempt by EU institutions to control political discourse on social media through the Digital Services Act (DSA); expresses grave concern that content moderation practices and the use of politically biased fact checkers undermine democratic debate and contribute to self-censorship; calls on the Commission to substantially amend the DSA with a view to restoring Member States’ primary responsibility over legal content and ensuring full respect for freedom of expression, the right to information and political pluralism;

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4. Amendment 4PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 86 a (new)
   Amendment

   86a. Expresses deep concern about evidence and reports suggesting that certain civil society organisations have engaged in illegal actions, including aiding and abetting illegal migration and cooperating with human smuggling networks; underlines the fact that NGOs that systematically violate national and international law pose a serious threat to the rule of law and must be held accountable through effective enforcement mechanisms;

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5. Amendment 5PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 91
   Current text

   91. Stresses that transparency and accountability in the use of EU funds are vital components of the rule of law; stresses that reporting obligations and transparency should be in place to ensure that EU money is well spent, while avoiding unnecessary burdens on organisations; considers that the current EU legislation on scrutiny, due diligence and transparency constitutes a solid basis, and underlines that the EU should remain ready to review and reinforce the framework should shortcomings be identified; calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure the allocation of adequate and sustainable financial resources for civil society organisations and human rights defenders, in accorda…

   Amendment

   91. Expresses grave concern about the lack of transparency regarding EU funding to NGOs; notes with concern reports that the Commission has financed NGOs for campaigns, public advocacy and litigation, including activities aimed at influencing regulatory outcomes in favour of specific policy objectives, without public disclosure of contractual arrangements or funding criteria; stresses that substantial amounts are disbursed annually to NGOs without publication of contracts, transparent allocation mechanisms or adequate oversight, creating risks of political instrumentalisation of taxpayer money and conflicts of interest; calls on the Commission to ensure full public disclosure of all EU fundi…

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6. Amendment 6PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 103
   Current text

   103. Expresses alarm at the surge in all forms of religious hatred, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination across the EU; calls on Member States to ensure equal protection before the law for all minorities;

   Amendment

   103. Expresses alarm at the surge in all forms of religious hatred, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination across the EU; stresses that efforts to combat discrimination must explicitly address anti-white racism alongside all other forms of racism; expresses concern about growing insecurity and targeted hostility faced by local residents in certain areas, including in districts with high concentrations of third-country nationals; further underlines the rising number of anti-Christian acts across the EU; calls on Member States to ensure equal protection before the law for all minorities;

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7. Amendment 7PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 112
   Current text

   112. Reiterates the obligation of Member States to respect EU and international law in the field of migration and asylum on land and at sea; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that migration and asylum policies, including the Pact on Migration and Asylum, are implemented in full compliance with the Charter, the principle of non-refoulment and the principle of responsibility-sharing to ensure that people’s rights to asylum and international protection are upheld; reiterates that practices such as stopping asylum seekers and forcibly returning them to the country they entered from without carrying out an individual assessment, arbitrary detention and obstruction of humanit…

   Amendment

   112. Welcomes the fact that some Member States have adopted laws, policies and practices aimed at reducing illegal migratory flows to EU territory and restoring effective control of external borders, while ensuring compliance with applicable legal obligations; stresses that safeguarding the integrity of external borders is a prerequisite for maintaining the rule of law within the Union; underlines the fact that Member States must retain the ability to take necessary and proportionate measures to prevent illegal entry and to ensure the effective functioning of their migration and asylum systems;

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8. Amendment 8PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 113 a (new)
   Amendment

   113a. Stresses that upholding the rule of law also entails ensuring that return decisions are effectively carried out; recalls that Parliament, in its position on the proposed Return Regulation, highlights the fact that the external dimension is a crucial part of an effective return system; underlines, therefore, that trade, visa policies and development aid provided by the Union should be made conditional upon the level of cooperation of third countries on readmission and returns;

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9. Amendment 9PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 116
   Current text

   116. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take effective action against gender-based violence, online and offline, including adding it to the list of ‘EU crimes’; urges an EU legislative proposal on combating rape as defined by the lack of consent, the full implementation of EU rules on violence against women, and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by all Member States; expresses concern about anti-gender movements and disinformation undermining gender equality;

   Amendment

   116. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take effective action against gender-based violence, online and offline, including adding it to the list of ‘EU crimes’; urges an EU legislative proposal on combating rape as defined by the lack of consent; notes that several Member States have reported significant changes in patterns of sexual violence over the past decade, including factors related to integration challenges and illegal migration flows; stresses that effective responses to gender-based violence must take full account of these developments and be based on a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis of all contributing factors, in order to ensure targeted and effective preven…

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10. Amendment 10PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 126
    Current text

    126. Urges the Commission to take further action under the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation in the case of Hungary as regards other breaches of the rule of law, such as those related to the judiciary; highlights that the weakening of the judicial system and of the independence and impartiality of public administration and undue supplier concentration in procurement procedures represent systemic rule of law risks that threaten sound financial management; stresses that violations of rules, manipulation of, or undue favouritism in calls for tender and applications involving EU funding, as well as administrative harassment breaching the equal treatment of local and regional authorities, com…

    Amendment

    126. Calls on the Commission to refrain from using the disbursement of EU funds as a political instrument to interfere in Member States’ democratic processes or to exert pressure on democratically elected governments; stresses the importance of a robust legal framework to prevent corruption and the misappropriation of EU funds, and of ensuring that it is applied equally, objectively and in a non-discriminatory manner across all Member States, irrespective of their governments’ political orientation;

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11. Amendment 11PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 168
    Current text

    168. Believes that EU-level interinstitutional dialogue and cooperation on the rule of law should be strengthened; regrets the fact that the Commission and the Council have so far rejected its offer to enter into an interinstitutional agreement on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; reaffirms its willingness to resume talks on this agreement, underlining the added value of a structured and predictable framework; stresses that the argument that such an agreement would be excessively rigid cannot justify inaction; calls for pragmatic solutions to already improve cooperation; calls on the Council to make its rule of law dialogue more inclusive by inviting representatives of other…

    Amendment

    168. Believes that EU-level interinstitutional dialogue and cooperation on the rule of law should be strengthened by subjecting the EU institutions themselves to the same rule of law and anti-corruption scrutiny and accountability mechanisms applied to Member States, in order to ensure internal coherence and the credibility of the rule of law framework;

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12. Amendment 12PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 185
    Current text

    185. Reiterates the findings and recommendations of its resolution of 25 November 2025 on the proposal for a Council decision determining, pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union, the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded; takes note that the Commission has initiated an infringement procedure against Hungary for failure to comply with several provisions of the EMFA, as well as certain requirements under the Audiovisual Media Services Directives; underlines that, in her Opinion in Case C-829/24, Commission v Hungary, Advocate General Juliane Kokott considered that Hungary had infringed EU law by adopting legislati…

    Amendment

    185. Expresses grave concern that rule of law mechanisms, including Article 7 proceedings and the Conditionality Regulation, risk being instrumentalised to exert political pressure on Member States whose policies diverge from particular political or ideological preferences, rather than being applied objectively on the basis of genuine violations of Article 2 TEU values; calls on the Commission to refrain from using the rule of law framework as a pretext to interfere in policy areas that fall within Member State competence;

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13. Amendment 13S&D, Verts/ALE, The LeftMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 155 a (new)
    Amendment

    155a. Reiterates that the comprehensive interinstitutional mechanism should be supported by an impartial and independent monitoring body, composed of independent legal, academic and human rights experts, tasked with monitoring rule of law developments in the Member States and providing regular assessments, recommendations and early warnings to the Commission; highlights the particular relevance, for the purposes of this exercise, of reports and data from FRA and other EU bodies, offices and agencies, as well as from the Venice Commission and the Group of States against Corruption; calls on the Commission to enhance and strengthen its cooperation with EU and international bodies, such as the…

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14. Amendment 14ECRMotion for a resolution · Recital R
    Current text

    R. whereas corruption remains a major concern for EU citizens, as shown by the 2025 Eurobarometer survey on corruption54 ; whereas in particular, 69 % of those surveyed consider corruption to be widespread in their country and 51 % believe it is widespread within political parties; whereas the survey respondents overwhelmingly reject corrupt practices, with 71 % of them considering that it is never acceptable to do favours in exchange for advantages from public authorities, 74 % rejecting the giving of gifts and 80 % rejecting the giving of money to obtain such advantages; whereas 5 % of the people surveyed report having experienced or witnessed corruption in the past 12 months but only one…

    Amendment

    R. whereas corruption remains a major concern for EU citizens, as shown by the 2025 Eurobarometer survey on corruption54 ; whereas in particular, 69 % of those surveyed consider corruption to be widespread in their country and 51 % believe it is widespread within political parties; whereas the survey respondents overwhelmingly reject corrupt practices, with 71 % of them considering that it is never acceptable to do favours in exchange for advantages from public authorities, 74 % rejecting the giving of gifts and 80 % rejecting the giving of money to obtain such advantages; whereas 5 % of the people surveyed report having experienced or witnessed corruption in the past 12 months but only one…

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15. Amendment 15ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 38
    Current text

    38. Is deeply concerned by corruption cases that have emerged within European institutions and stresses that the rule of law requires that persons holding public office cannot act arbitrarily or abuse their power for personal gain; calls on EU institutions to fully apply the principles of good governance, including transparency, accountability, and integrity;

    Amendment

    38. Is deeply concerned by corruption cases that have emerged within European institutions and stresses that the rule of law requires that persons holding public office cannot act arbitrarily or abuse their power for personal gain; calls on EU institutions to fully apply the principles of good governance, including transparency, accountability, and integrity; calls on the Commission to resume, within its Eurobarometer surveys, the publication of data on public perceptions of corruption not only at national, regional and local levels, but also within the EU institutions – the publication of which the Commission has discontinued, despite numerous serious scandals in the EU institutions;

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16. Amendment 16ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 44
    Current text

    44. Calls on the Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries, as well as EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, to establish or strengthen preventive measures against corruption, such as specialised and independent anti-corruption institutions, transparent management of EU funds, strengthened or proper enforcement of transparency requirements in decision-making, such as registers of lobbyists and reporting obligations on political funding, ensuring a high level of transparency in the relevant EU policy areas, codes of conduct for public officials, mandatory asset declarations and verification thereof, early warning systems, and clear rules on conflict-of-inte…

    Amendment

    44. Calls on the Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries, as well as EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, to establish or strengthen preventive measures against corruption, such as specialised and independent anti-corruption institutions, transparent management of EU funds, strengthened or proper enforcement of transparency requirements in decision-making, such as registers of lobbyists and reporting obligations on political funding, ensuring a high level of transparency in the relevant EU policy areas, codes of conduct for public officials, mandatory asset declarations and verification thereof, early warning systems, and clear rules on conflict-of-inte…

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17. Amendment 17ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 55
    Current text

    55. Urges the Member States, candidate and potential candidate countries to ensure prompt, thorough and impartial investigations of corruption cases, with particular priority given to cases involving high-level officials, in order to safeguard the rule of law, uphold public trust and ensure accountability at all levels of government; calls, furthermore on the Member States to follow up on such cases within a reasonable time frame so as not to foster a sense of impunity among citizens;

    Amendment

    55. Urges the Member States, candidate and potential candidate countries to ensure prompt, thorough and impartial investigations of corruption cases, with particular priority given to cases involving high-level officials, in order to safeguard the rule of law, uphold public trust and ensure accountability at all levels of government; calls, furthermore on the Member States to follow up on such cases within a reasonable time frame so as not to foster a sense of impunity among citizens; notes with concern instances of the persecution of public officials who have exposed corruption and contributed to the criminal conviction of high-level officials; considers such a policy of retaliation and rev…

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18. Amendment 18ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 10 a (new)
    Amendment

    10a. Emphasises that the impartiality of judges requires strict ideological neutrality and absolute restraint in expressing personal opinions; condemns any form of activism within the judiciary that transforms the role of the judge into a political tool, thereby undermining public trust in the judicial system; stresses that respect for the rule of law is incompatible with a system in which justice is perceived as a discretionary power lacking democratic oversight;

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19. Amendment 19ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 34 a (new)
    Amendment

    34a. Expresses concern about the growing trend of judicialisation in political life, which may lead to the neutralisation of opponents through judicial means; asserts that respect for the rule of law prohibits any instrumentalisation of the judicial system, whether by EU institutions or national authorities, that would interfere in electoral processes; believes that the judiciary should serve as a bulwark against arbitrariness and not as a tool for political combat circumventing the ballot box;

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20. Amendment 20ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 118 a (new)
    Amendment

    118a. Emphasises that the principle of conditionality should not be misused as a political tool to advance specific agendas; underlines that any application of conditionality must be based on objective criteria and transparent processes, to prevent the politicisation of EU funding;

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