The European Commission's 2026 Rule of Law Report on Latvia, published on 22 July 2026, assesses progress on judicial independence, anti-corruption, media freedom, and civic space, with specific recommendations for the Latvian Parliament and Government. The report highlights some advancements but calls for further action on judicial reforms and lobbying legislation.
On the justice system, the Commission notes progress in safeguarding Supreme Court judge appointments from undue influence, with a draft law allowing challenges to parliamentary rejections published in May 2026 and submitted to Parliament. The Judicial Academy began operations in January 2025, training judges and prosecutors, and resources were redirected in 2025 to strengthen court support staff. Legal aid for Constitutional Court proceedings was expanded in April 2026. The Economic Court's jurisdiction is under revision.
In anti-corruption, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted the Corruption Prevention and Combating Action Plan 2026-2027 in April 2026. Amendments to the Law on KNAB in 2026 strengthened the agency's competences in risk analysis. Investigation and prosecution of corruption cases remain effective, with a stable number of cases.
Regarding media and civic space, the merger of public television and radio into Latvian Public Media is complete. Amendments to the Press Law introduced mandatory registration and beneficial ownership disclosure. An Action Plan on journalist safety was approved. Parliament is discussing amendments to the Ombudsperson nomination process and the Constitutional Court Law.
The report concludes that Latvia has made some progress on judicial appointment safeguards and adopted a new anti-corruption action plan, but must still finalise judicial reform and fully implement lobbying legislation.