This year again, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (Ombudsman) actively participated in the preparation of the regional report on the state of the rule of law in Europe prepared by the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI). The report includes the EU member states, EU candidate states, and non-member states. The current report is one of the most comprehensive and independent portrays of conditions in the field of the rule of law in Europe.

The regional report is based on contributions from more than 40 European national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and reveals crucial systemic challenges of the rule of law in Europe. The report also includes the national contribution of the Slovenian Ombudsman. In this contribution, the Ombudsman highlighted several systemic issues influencing the efficient protection of human rights and the respect of the principle of the rule of law. Inter alia, the Ombudsman also drew attention to the fact that for several months now, the institution has been operating without the head person with a full mandate, which is weakening its reputation and lessens its ability to respond to the violations of human rights and warn about them. The Ombudsman added the challenges connected to the proposed changes and amendments of the Human Rights Ombudsman Act since the act should strengthen the institution’s independence, widen its jurisdictions, and ensure it is synchronised with the Paris Principles of the United Nations about the status of national human rights institutions. The Ombudsman also warned about the lack of efficient response of state bodies to the Ombudsman’s recommendations, especially with structural changes, such as the deinstitutionalisation, healthcare, and the rights of persons with disabilities. In addition, the Ombudsman emphasised that in practice, the institution is frequently left out of initial phases of legislation preparation – even when it directly includes its jurisdiction (e.g. preposition of the Media Act).

The report reveals that for the sixth year in a row the negative trend in the field of the rule of law in Europe continues. In addition to repeating challenges, such as the lack of response from authorities to the NHRI recommendations, the decrease of budget means, pressure on civil society and media, numerous national institutions also report about long-lasting judicial proceedings, poor accessibility of free legal aid, and insufficient protection of vulnerable groups. In many countries, access to legal protection is made additionally difficult due to the lack of judges, outdated proceedings (e.g. too slow digitalisation of courts’ operation), high cost of free legal aid or the lack of special proceedings for vulnerable groups. The report also warns about the un-implementation of decisions made by national courts which undermines the trust in the rule of law.

Nevertheless, certain positive shifts in several states can also be detected in the report, such as the strengthening of legislative frameworks for the operation of human rights institutions, the acquisition or preservation of Status A according to Paris Principles, better access to public information, and greater inclusion of civil society into the formation of public policies.

Thus, the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions gives a series of concrete recommendations for the improvement of the state of the rule of law to national authorities and regional institutions. Key recommendations include provision of sufficient means for the operation of national human rights institutions, the establishment of strong protective mechanisms for human rights advocates, encouragement of implementation of decisions by the European Human Rights Court, and the strengthening of transparency, responsibility, and independence of judicial systems.

ENNHRI expects the report to serve the decision-makers on national and European levels as a concrete tool for the strengthening of the rule of law, protection of human rights, and consolidation of democracy in Europe.

The ENNHRI Regional Report on the State of the Rule of Law for 2025 is accessible here.