Support for human rights systems and defenders

FRA has contributed to the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report, published on 15 July.

The Agency’s contribution:

• Contains information on civic space developments for all 27 EU Member States and the three FRA observer States (Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia)
• Points to ongoing concerns in relation to the fundamental rights situation of civil society, noting issues such as smear campaigns, prosecutions of activists, funding cuts, cases of strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs) and draft legislation restricting the freedom of association
• Notes continued instances of hasty law-making and lack of consultation on draft legislation 
• Expresses particular concern at growing restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly both in terms of law and in practice
• Notes some positive developments, such as the beginning of transposition of anti-SLAPP legislation required by EU law

The concerns raised in the FRA submission echo those in FRA’s previous reports on civic space, including its March 2026 Civic Space Update, and its December 2025 Report Better legislation – Human rights impact assessments in lawmaking. 

The Agency and its partners also issued an explainer on the rule of law in June which sets out the main aspects of the rule of law. 

A FRA report illustrating the ways in which fundamental and human rights law contributes to the protection of the rule of law is also due for publication by the end of 2026.