(Brussels, February 4, 2026) - European Union institutions and member states' failure to prioritize human rights undermines the rule of law, democratic space, and rights protection at home and abroad, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2026.

A focus on deterring migration, combined with the normalization of anti-gender, anti-migrant, and anti-democratic narratives, inconsistent enforcement of the rule of law, shrinking space for civil society, and accusations of double-standards in its foreign policy have undermined the bloc's fundamental values.

"From migration to the rule of law to foreign policy, the EU is neglecting human rights and accountability in ways that harm democracy and leave people vulnerable to abuse," said Benjamin Ward, acting Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "In the face of an unstable world and threats in Europe, it's vital for that the EU to consistently stands up for core human rights values."

In the 529-page World Report 2026, its 36th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 100 countries. In his introductory essay, Executive Director Philippe Bolopion writes that breaking the authoritarian wave sweeping the world is the challenge of a generation. With the human rights system under unprecedented threat from the Trump administration and other global powers, Bolopion calls on rights-respecting democracies and civil society to build a strategic alliance to defend fundamental freedoms.

In addition to a chapter on EU-wide developments, the World Report 2026 includes individual chapters on France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

"The EU can and should be a force for good in the world and for people living inside the bloc," Ward said. "That can only happen if its institutions and member governments take their treaty obligations to protect and promote human rights seriously and apply them consistently."

Source: Human Rights Watch