European Union institutions and member states are failing to uphold human rights in ways that undermine democracy, the rule of law, and rights protections both within the bloc and internationally, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2026. The report argues that inconsistent commitment to human rights has weakened the EU’s core values and reduced its credibility as a global advocate for democratic principles.
Human Rights Watch found that EU migration policies increasingly prioritize deterrence over protection, contributing to the erosion of asylum rights. Proposed reforms would expand detention, weaken safeguards against unsafe deportations, and enable asylum processing or returns outside the EU. At the same time, several member states restricted or suspended access to asylum procedures, while EU institutions failed to mount a meaningful response, allowing rights violations to persist.
The report also highlighted continued backsliding on the rule of law among member states, particularly Hungary. Despite long-standing concerns, the EU Council did not take decisive action to hold the Hungarian government accountable. In 2025, Hungary withdrew from the International Criminal Court and hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is subject to an ICC arrest warrant, without enforcing it, further raising concerns about selective respect for international justice.
Human Rights Watch noted that the growing influence of far-right parties, along with mainstream political adoption of their rhetoric, has fueled discrimination against migrants, Muslims, and LGBT people. While the European Commission maintained strategies aimed at protecting marginalized groups, key legislative efforts to strengthen anti-discrimination protections remain stalled, leaving significant legal gaps unaddressed.
Economic and social rights also remain unevenly protected across the EU. Despite some progress, weak implementation has left more than 93 million people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with unemployment continuing to be a major contributing factor. These failures, the report said, undermine social cohesion and democratic resilience across the bloc.
On foreign policy, the EU continued to sanction Russia over abuses linked to its war in Ukraine and reaffirmed commitments to accountability, but fell short of explicitly supporting International Criminal Court proceedings in 2025. The EU’s response to Israeli military abuses in Palestine remained deeply divided, with reluctance to take meaningful action increasing following the October ceasefire. Elsewhere, the EU prioritized security, trade, and migration cooperation with authoritarian governments, often at the expense of human rights considerations.
Human Rights Watch concluded that the EU risks further weakening democracy and rights protections unless it applies its human rights obligations consistently and credibly. The organization urged EU institutions and member states to reaffirm their treaty commitments and ensure that human rights remain central to policymaking both within Europe and in external relations.
